MATTER Magazine Winter 2008

Volume 5.1 | A publication of Material ConneXionÂŽ | The leading global platform for material innovation and solutions | www.materialconnexion.com

US $5.00

Nau Clothing A MATTER Interview

Camera Ready Raising the Roof on Stadium Design Oscar Pistorius Materials & Athletics at the Limits 24 New Materials

the sports issue

88 Franklin Street NYC 10013 t: 212.925.6171 www.dune-ny.com

Welcome Volume 5.1

Executive Director

George M. Beylerian Editor in Chief

Richard J. Lombard Associate Editor

Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe Contributors

Andrew Dent, Ph.D. Richard J. Lombard Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe Graphic Design

Studio Dror Director of Publications

Michael LaGreca

MATTER, a quarterly publication, reaches over 30,000 professionals in diverse design fields and material development. For more information about the publication, or for advertising details, please contact: advertising@materialconnexion.com T +1 212 842 2050 Copyright ©Material ConneXion®, Inc. March 2008, Volume 5, Issue 1 MATTER Material ConneXion Inc. 127 West 25th Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10001 T +1 212 842 2050 F +1 212 842 1090 matter@materialconnexion.com

It’s a quaint notion to think of sports as mere contests of skill.

With the New York Yankees’ annual 2007 payroll topping out at a record $218.3 million and football clubs like Manchester United franchising out financial products like mortgages, credit cards, and insurance policies, sports have become a multibillion dollar industry. Nike’s annual r&d budget alone is enough to make nasa jealous.

Whether it’s stadiums being re-designed to accommodate new technologies (and luxury skyboxes) or sneakers being researched, developed, worn and —therefore—marketed by athletes worldwide, sports-related industries create an enormous pipeline for material and technological innovations.

Expand that philosophy to an entire city, and you’ve got Beijing’s approach to the 2008 Olympics.

Where they concern sports, the sectors of architecture and design are undergoing a similar “re-schooling” of manners and The Olympic Games represent the practices and pushing new largest single showcase for all boundaries themselves. The run these marketing and research up to this year’s Olympics in dollars, so after an athletic Beijing bears witness to some calendar year marred by fallen amazing technological advances sports heroes and human rights not only in field of sports but also controversies, we are now in the venues where they can be turning our attention to viewed. In this issue of matter we pre-Olympic preparations by both use sports as a point of departure athletes and the host city, Beijing. to explore material advances in stadium architecture, protective equipment and prosthetic aids for The 2008 Games are widely athletes. understood as Beijing’s global coming-out party, and the city is scuttling about with anticipatory programs like a preening debutante. Imagine throwing a George M. Beylerian party so big, so important, that Founder + President you decided to remodel your Material ConneXion® entire house and school your kids in a new set of manners.

5.1 Matter

MC# 2705-02 A poured-in-place

24 New Materials

running and sports surface that is sustainable, durable and easy to install.

This polyurethane (TPU) rubber, flexible, high friction flooring can be painted, installed indoors or outdoors and can withstand the use of running spikes.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover photo ©2008 Ben Moon

06

10

Camera Ready

Nau Clothing

Raising the Roof on Stadium

A MATTER Interview

Design

By Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe

By Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe

Photo: Daniel Sharp, 2008

Photo: Christian Gates St. Pierre A new clothing company based

5.1 Matter

With the translucent facades of

in Portland, Oregon, Nau devotes

Beijing’s Water Cube poised to turn this

its efforts to sustainability by

National Aquatics Center into a giant

designing beautiful outerwear from

projection screen, it’s clear to see how

environmentally friendly materials

television broadcasting has influenced

and by partnering with social and

stadium architecture. This brief survey

environmental organizations. Technical

of stadium architecture illustrates not

outdoor clothing and urban casual

only how architects are being called

wear are at the core of their product

upon to create bold, camera-ready

range, created in fabrics made from

landmarks, but also how they are

sustainable materials like soda

solving broadcasting issues of lighting,

bottles, 100% organic cotton and 100%

exposure, and playback.

traceable wool.

Table of Contents

Regular Features

03 Welcome 18 Best in Show 36 Material ConneXion International News

22

26

28

Oscar Pistorius

Use your Head

Protective Materials

Materials & Athletics at the

and Protect it at the Same Time

By Andrew Dent, Ph.D.

Limits

By Richard J. Lombard

By Richard J. Lombard Photo: Ossur (www.ossur.com)

“Never let them see you sweat,” In the grand scheme of things,

the advertisements used to say.

cycling helmets are a fairly

No matter what your game,

Materials innovations in prosthetics

recent development; but the first

materials can help you stay cool,

can enable a person without legs to

commercially successful model is

calm, and protected from a variety

not only walk, but also to run with

almost 30 years old this year. From

of ills. Innovative materials and

the fastest people on the planet.

EPS foam and Lexan, to air bladders

technologies have emerged that can

Oscar Pistorius has been able to

and mechanical absorption methods,

repel not only the heating rays of the

run competitively thanks to unusual

Richard Lombard explores the

sun, but the bumps and bruises that

prosthetics known as “Cheetahs,”

evolution of this protective gear from

life sometimes hands us.

manufactured by Ossur in Iceland.

the vantage point of materials and

But wherever materials interact

examines what makes them stronger,

with human performance, there will

lighter and more aerodynamic.

always be questions as to who or what is actually responsible for that performance.

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Camera Ready Raising the Roof on Stadium Design

by Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe The basics of stadium design have changed very little since the Colosseum of ancient Rome.

Open-air buildings with a round or oval central arena, and seats concentrically placed around it, provide the spectator with optimal viewing of many different activities. However, the advent of television has introduced a new set of requirements that have driven radical changes in stadium architecture, both aesthetically and functionally. Aerial broadcasting has made the roof an all-important the “fifth facade�, especially to home viewers seeing a stadium from the hovering blimp. Architects today are also called on to create distinctive landmarks that are both strikingly bold and camera-ready.

Additionally, new technologies and materials have allowed longer, unsupported spans, greater coverage and slick, modern designs.

The Olympic stadium in Montreal

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PHOTO morguefile.com

Camera Ready

Munich's Olympic Stadium

Television Makes its Mark From a functional viewpoint, the technological requirements associated with televising sports from a stadium created new problems for architecture to solve. Before the 1972 Olympics in Munich, broadcasters discovered that when a 400-meter athlete ran out of the sun into a strong shadow, the camera sensors were too slow to adjust. Therefore the roof of the Munich Olympic Stadium complex was designed with a transparent PVCcoated polyester skin suspended on hangers to evenly distribute the maximum amount of daylight. It comprises thousands of tiles of transparent acrylic glass arranged to form a tent-like cover over the stadium and certain satellite buildings. Supported by a steel net suspended between several large masts, the roof covers a total area of 85,000 square meters (915,000 square feet).

Raising the Roof While transparent roofing is a modern solution to stadium architecture, the idea of a retractable roof is as old as the Colosseum itself, which had a “Velarium” or awning that covered the spectators from the sun and was maneuvered by a unit of sailors from the imperial fleet.

Thus, the retractable roof that was built for Montreal’s Stadium to host the 1976 Olympic Games, was one of the first modern attempts at this ancient solution.

Hoisted by 26 steel cables, this gigantic awning made from 5,639 square meters (60,696 square feet) of orange and silver Kevlar fabric (a synthetic fiber used in some bulletproof vests) was supposed to fold into the adjacent

The retractable roof of Montreal's stadium

leaning tower, much like a giant umbrella—but this wasn’t an immediate success. First, the enormous fabric roof took much longer to produce and wasn’t ready until almost 10 years after the stadium was opened. Second, mechanical failure, as well as rips and tears, pushed the annual upkeep costs of the Kevlar membrane roof to $700,000. Most of the problems stemmed from its mast, a 556-foot leaning tower adjacent to the structure when, because of weight issues, the builders switched from concrete to steel in the middle of the construction.

Finally, by the spring of 1998, the orange Kevlar roof was replaced with a $26 million non-retractable, opaque blue Teflon-coated Fiberglas fabric.

Architecture as Identity Since the success of Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim in Bilbao, more and more city planners are looking for an iconic landmark building to act as catalysts for urban renewal. This means that more often celebrity architects are being asked to give Olympic bids a dash of highdesign glamour. The first example of this trend is Santiago Calatrava’s refurbishment of the Olympic Sporting Complex in Athens for the 2004 Summer Olympics.

The new roof Calatrava created for the Spiridon Louis Stadium used polycarbonate panels to provide shade for 95% of the stadium’s seating and absorb 45% of incoming solar heat and radiation - a feature very important during the Greek summer.

Calatrava’s design is a graceful sweeping structure composed of a pair of bent “leaves” that covers a surface of 23,500 square meters (253,000 square feet) while 5.1 Matter

Santiago Calatrava’s refurbishment of the Olympic Sporting Complex in Athens

leaving an open area over the playing field. Each leaf is supported by a steel arch from which the rolling forms of polycarbonate roof panels are suspended. The two leaves are joined at their ends, forming an oval that has become the largest glazed roof in the world. This feat was made possible by the fact that polycarbonate is 200 times stronger than glass but only one-half the weight.

Material advances like these enabled Calatrava to capitalize on off-site fabrication techniques that allowed the rest of the stadium to be renovated while the roof and supporting arches were constructed nearby and then slid into position during the final assembly. With daring innovation, Calatrava’s renovation turned a serviceable collection of buildings into postcard material. This architectural icon logged more television time than the Acropolis and became more recognizable than the Athens’ logo as the trademark of the 2004 Olympic Games.

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PHOTO Jordan Kevrekidis

PHOTO Rob W.

Beijing 2008 Now that the demand for iconic architecture has become the norm, Beijing’s commissions for the 2008 Olympics exemplify what new pre-requisites for construction should aim to be: beautiful, functional, forward-thinking, and most importantly, a good example of a sustainable future.

With this in mind, the goal of the Beijing organizing committee is to conduct a hi-tech, “Green” Olympics that will strengthen public awareness of environmental protection and promote the development and application of new technologies.

Both Beijing’s National Stadium and their National Aquatics Center will be stunning landmarks for environmentally efficient, carbon neutral architecture.

By definition, large-scale, highly-trafficked buildings raise questions of waste, efficiency, and cost, but the designs for Beijing’s Olympic Stadium by Herzog & de Meuron seem to pose innovative, green solutions to a variety of potential building issues. Fondly referred to by some as the “Bird’s Nest,” the stadium is an über-green machine whose features include a rainwater collection system, a translucent roof that provides essential sunlight for the grass below, and a natural, passive ventilation system.

However, instead of form being dictated by function, Herzog and de Meuron’s design effectively removes the distinction, making function and form one in the same. The stadium itself is composed of a grid-like formation that serves as both structure and facade, integrating the stairs, walls, and roof into one cohesive system. The most unique feature of the structure is its “cushion” system which, like a nest stuffed by birds, strategically fills the spaces within the building’s facade to regulate wind, weather, and sunlight. This system not only gives the stadium its sculptural appearance, it also facilitates the passive ventilation, which is the most important aspect of the

Beijing’s National Stadium, designed by Herzog and de Meuron

Camera Ready stadium’s sustainable design. Coincidentally, the cushions will be made from ETFE, the same material used to create the translucency of the Aquatics Center across the Olympic park.

Creating Micro-climates and Projections Designed by Sydney based PTW Architects, the Beijing National Aquatics Center — also affectionately known as the Water Cube, or [H20]3 — is the largest ETFE project to date. When complete, its walls and roof will be clad in more than 100,000 square meters (more than one million square feet) of blue ETFE pillows with cell walls just .008 inch thick. While these look like one uniform façade, the 3,000 cells are actually relatively independent from each other, providing convenience for replacement of individual cushions when needed.

The high-tech blue coating on the ETFE cushions, allows for greater light and heat penetration than traditional glass, resulting in a 30% reduction in energy

PHOTO Wang Qian

A transparent plastic cousin of Teflon, ETFE (ethylenetetrafluoroethylene) is a fluorocarbon-based polymer, whose self-cleaning properties mean that dirt, snow, sleet and rain slide off its non-stick, non-porous surface. If exposed to fire, ETFE shrinks from the heat, providing a natural vent for smoke to escape a building.

Far from being a new material, ETFE was invented in the 1970’s by DuPont as an insulation material for the aeronautics market. Today, ETFE is finding its way into some of the most innovative examples of architecture as a cost-effective cladding solution, enabling a wide range of applications where traditional materials, such as glass, may not be possible. Weighing just one percent the weight of glass, ETFE can cost up to 70% less to install. It also boasts extraordinary resilience, including the ability to carry 400 times its weight.

The material’s unique properties make it a pliable canvas for an architect’s artistic expression. ETFE can be spun into thin yet durable structured sheets or inflated into “pillows.”

PTW Architects designed Beijing National Aquatics Center

costs. Ninety percent of the solar energy falling on the building is trapped within the structural zone and is used to heat the interior area and the pools, keeping them at an optimal 28° Celsius (82° Fahrenheit) for swimmers.

With regards to aesthetic properties, ETFE is available in different finishes, colors and prints, and can be lit from within using LED lights or decorated with projections. The particular species of ETFE used on the Water Cube is designed to react specifically to lighting and projections. For example, at the start of the 2008 Olympic Games, the Water Cube’s exterior walls will turn into a rear projection screen that televise of the swimming competitions inside.

In addition to capitalizing on solar energy to heat the Water Cube, PTW Architects designed a two-stage filtration system that recycles water through external conditioning ponds in the landscaped grounds before returning it back to the swimming pools.

When architects and planners combine new green technologies like these together with innovations in construction and materials, the results herald a new generation of truly sustainable architectural solutions that meld form and function like never before.

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PHOTO Ben Moon, 2008

Interview with

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Technical outdoor clothing and casual sportswear are at the core of Nau’s product range in fabrics made from sustainable materials like soda bottles, 100% organic cotton, 100% traceable wool, and most importantly biopolymer fabrics such as Polylactic Acid (PLA), an incredibly versatile synthetic fiber made from corn. While Nau’s athletic wear performs as well as other brands of highend performance gear, it’s Nau’s clean, minimal lines, subdued colors and impeccable tailoring that set it apart.

NAU

clothing

by Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe Nau is a new clothing company based in Portland, Oregon which is devoted to sustainability by designing beautiful outerwear from environmentally friendly materials and by partnering with social and environmental organizations.

Their name comes from the Maori welcoming phrase Nau mai haere mai which makes equals of strangers and represents a warmth of invitation.

As a logo it also happens to be an ambigram- a word that reads the same upside down, which evokes the sense of balance they seek to weave into all elements of their identity.

Matter sat down with Jaime Bainbridge, Director of Materials Research and Scott Fedje, Creative Director of Webfront Operations.

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Interview

when you order online, and having a small footprint in our stores have enabled us to have a smaller footprint and be much more cost effective in everything we do.

JB And as far as the product line goes, it’s also that high. Absolutely all the cotton we make is organically grown cotton. Our wool is a product that we’re moving towards being a more traceable and sustainable product. Our polyester comes from about 95% recycled sources, and all our polyester and synthetic fabrics are recyclable. In a lot of cases, Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe The idea of an outdoor apparel business is not new, but your sustainable design philosophy and business model are. Are you a performance company that wants to be sustainable, or a sustainable company that does performance wear?

Jaime Bainbridge That’s a hard question to answer. We are both, really. I think that we blur the edges of those two things. There are three product criteria that all our products need to meet. They need to be sustainable. They need to be beautiful.

And they need to have performance.

So we try and get all three of those into every product that we build.

Scott Fedje Although this philosophy started as the identifier for our product goals, we’ve actually brought that 12

5.1 Matter

into every aspect of the business. So when you look at our marketing strategy, our low-impact store environments and how we touch consumers, whether online or at events, we really do use those criteria as kind of our mantra. If it isn’t beautiful, sustainable, or if it doesn’t perform, it’s not worth doing unless we can come up with another way of doing it. We feel we only really deserve to exist if our products and practices are capable of contributing to positive lasting, substantive change.

I think that’s the initial change in business that’s so exciting- this idea of balancing people, planet and profit- that makes us really different from other companies. You know, the whole idea of giving 5% of all sales to our “Partners for Change”, the incentive of a discount and free shipping

PHOTOS Daniel Sharp, 2008

Also, when it comes to display, there’s a lot of bad materials used that are cheap and quick to put up in windows and just thrown away afterwards. But I would say that about 90% of everything we’ve selected has a level of sustainability or responsibility to the product or the material.

Nau Clothing

we’re really pushing industries ahead, because we are giving them a place to sell that product and creating a market for the product. So we’re also pushing the forefronts of sustainability in a lot of areas.

SF And just anecdotally, I’ll add, it goes all the way down to the fact that we’re not allowed to have garbage cans at our desks. So really, it’s just driving at a more conscious decision making process: what do you do with waste.

DDB Please describe the design process. How do materials fit in?

JB Well we design our garments to be easily recycled by constructing them with monopolymers. Many outerwear manufacturers bond polyester shells to nylon linings or otherwise mix fabrics, making the garment non-recyclable or requiring deconstruction and separation

before recycling. While monopolymer design at times makes things more challenging for us, end-of-life strategies are deeply ingrained in our design philosophy.

I also run the materials research group here and when we started the business, there were a very limited number of materials available in recycled polyester yarns, which really wouldn’t have incorporated the beauty performance and sustainability all at the same time. So we are very development-heavy in our materials choices for our product.

Rather than being able to choose out of a sample book, we develop almost 100% of what we do with different mills around the world. We work really hard to find better combinations of materials that we can make into a product that stays recyclable at the end of its life.

DDB Do you have any new materials in development that you can talk about?

JB Yeah. Well one of our big initiatives right now is to try to develop a PFOA-free water-repellent finish.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid is a member of a class of peroxide-forming chemicals (PFCs) which most outdoor clothing companies use in waterproofing fabric. They are a huge problem in the environment and are about to be legislated against by the EPA. So we need to get them out of water-repellent finishes.

Another big one for us, though not really a fabric development, is trying to provide a traceable source of wool from the sheep in the field all the way through to the product. Most wool in the world is sold through wool brokers. And when you buy wool through a broker, you don’t know where that wool came from, how those animals are being raised, or anything in the supply chain that comes before you. So instead, we are buying wool on contract only

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Interview

PHOTO Daniel Sharp, 2008

DDB Who do you consider to be a potential customer at Nau?

from wool growers that we know.

We can trace that wool back to a sheep station in New Zealand and that station is then regulated in its raising of sheep by an organization that looks at animal husbandry practices, environmental practices, water quality, health of the sheep, veterinary practices. You name it, they look at it. And so by tracing that wool all the way through to whatever sweater or shirt it’s made into, allows our consumer to know where they’re getting their product, and that it was farmed in a way that would be respectful of all of those values.

DDB Because of the energy involved in growing corn, it’s sometimes controversial to consider corn pro-ducts sustainable. What made you choose corn-based PLA fibers over something else?

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JB First of all, PLA has some wonderful performance characteristics. It is a naturally wicking fiber, so it moves water away from the skin very quickly. It has very low odor retention, unlike some of its other synthetic counterparts.

So we liked it from that perspective. But the choice to turn corn into a polymer has its good sides and its bad sides. Once you begin working with these questions of sustainability, you realize that none of the answers are perfect and none of the answers are easy.

They’re always more involved than you thought they would be. So the whole business is a series of tradeoffs and a balancing act to try and come up with answers that you feel are the best answers towards sustainability that you can possibly get. And we’re learning new things all the time.

SF Again, look at our mantra, beauty, performance, sustainability and turn that into our perception of the consumer. Our ideal customer might have aspects of all three of those attributes, but by no means is it exclusive to that. Considering these three aspects, it actually allows us is to look at a bigger audience than say a Patagonia or a Nike. Where Nike might appeal to the athlete and fashion side, and a Patagonia customer might be on the athletic side and the sustainability side or activist side.

This not only gives us a real specific internal point of view, but it actually gives us a larger reach.

DDB Can you tell us a little bit about the emphasis behind the Influencers Program?

SF There’s a certain level of free or discounted product associated with sponsorships or endorsements and the Influencer program is Nau’s answer to the exclusives that athletes get with a pro program with Nike or North Face except that we’re coming from the perspective of people doing things that inspire us. A lot of times, it’s somebody that might cross over more than just one of our three criteria: somebody that is an activist, but also a great athlete or somebody that’s in fashion but has some activism level too.

DDB Is there anybody we know participating in it right now?

SF Oh there could be. But it’s not really about celebrity. It’s really about interesting people.

Dee Williams is a great example.

She’s a woman who is friends with

Nau Clothing

a few people in the company and was just living her life as anyone else was. But then she decided to decrease her footprint. She built herself a little house on a trailer flatbed, just kind of pulls this house around and stays with friends.

She’s just really downsized her life.

To us, that’s so inspirational.

It might not be the same step that any of us would take, but we think it’s worth talking about. That’s the kind of Influencers we look for.

DDB Because one thinks of high tech fabrics as something that’s not natural, performance clothing seems antithetical to sustainability. Can you reconcile these two views?

We’re working very hard to come up with a set of standards for grading how sustainable a product might be. And that trade show was full of all kinds of interesting information about sustainability and about how people are going about these processes as well.

DDB Do you see a trend of sustainable performance clothing outside of your own brand?

JB Well, I’d like to say is that I think that this is just an incredibly exciting time in the world of materials, to be involved with sustainability. It’s really inventing it as we go, and the changes are happening so quickly.

Being someone who’s been around the textile industry forever, I’ve never seen anything move at this speed that this is moving in. It gives me a lot of hope that the textile industry wants to do the best that they can do, given the opportunity. And that’s a really inspiring thing.

JB Yeah. The outdoor industry is quite involved in all sorts of aspects of sustainability, because they’re a group of people who care about their environment and they see it being degraded by a lot of things. I just returned from the outdoor retailer trade show, and I’m working on a committee that’s made up of people in the Outdoor Industry Association.

DDB Any closing statements?

PHOTO Ben Moon, 2008

JB Well I think there’s a common misconception that because something is natural, it’s more sustainable. And once you start to look into things deeply, sometimes

you find that the synthetic version of something actually takes less energy to produce, is less harmful. There can be some very surprising answers.

I know that Nike just put out some numbers on the amount of energy used to farm cotton organically versus the manufacturing of polyester, and polyester came out on top. So it isn’t always an obvious choice.

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Best IN Show Once a month, an interdisciplinary team of experts from a variety of design related fields, come together to select new materials for the library.

Out of the over forty materials juried monthly, one is chosen as the Best in Show. Model materials are innovative, eco-friendly, technologically advanced, and have many possible applications.

Here we have highlighted three of the most recent Best in Show materials.

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5.1 Matter

FOAM FOILS

encoded surfaces

Compact and foam foils are lighter than common foils, non-aging and recyclable. These foils feature a homogenous grain pattern that has a very detailed structure.

The combination of various finishes and patented embossing technologies enable custom surface finishes. Using special polymers and a cross-linking process, superior grain stability is achieved even on curved surfaces with very small radii. Current applications: Automotive industries (dashboards, instrument panels, door trims)

Decorated aluminum and plastic surfaces that also incorporate unique counterfeiting identification using high resolution digital printing and a covert digital security feature that provides enhanced counterfeit resistance by encoding data directly into the products’ substrate.

Counterfeiting or tampering can be detected using the company’s optical or digital authentication technologies. These aluminum and plastic parts are then used for applications such as gauge dials, name-plates, small electronics component covers or may be adhered to a range of substrates.

polymer MC# 5799-02

process MC# 4974-03

Best in Show

Leather weatherproofing process MC# 6072-01

A tanning process for the treatment of leather that renders it shower proof, machine washable and capable of being dried in the tumbler with no loss in property. This maintains breathability, stain resistance and colorfastness and does not adversely affect the hand of the leather or suede. The process will be used for applications such as footwear, apparel, handbags, hats, gloves, shoes, boots, briefcases, luggage and pillows.

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24 new materials

MC# 5808-03 Pigmentation for clear polymers that has a blue fluorescence. Typically added to blow molded polyethylene terepthalate (PET) bottles, this blue hued pigment is sold as a masterbatch to be added during the compounding phase. Different colors and additives may be added to create opaque or translucent effects. The pigment is FDA approved for food use and can be used in food and beverage containers, cosmetic packaging, toys and durable consumer goods.

MC# 6056-01 Woven 100% virgin wool flannel that is environmentally sustainable. This upholsteryweight wool textile is grade 4 colorfast, available in 22 colors and sold 55 in. wide. It passes the California flammability rating, has good breaking strength, and good resistance to wet and dry cracking.

According to the Martindale abrasion test it withstands 40,000 rubs and is also classified as a Biological Nutrient according to Cradle to CradleSM certification. Applications are for residential upholstery.

MC# 6064-01 This printable magnetic sheet is the thinnest magnetic material available. Comprising a gloss-coated paper backed with magnetic slurry.

It’s flexible, tear-proof, will not delaminate and may be printed using a range of processes that include sheet-fed, flexo and most HP Indigo presses. Three magnet strengths are available, with corresponding differences in thickness of paper and weight. It may be perforated, die-cut and laminated. Approved for use as a mailer by the United States Postal Service, it has been used for advertising in magazines, bathroom stalls, refrigerators and POP displays.

MC# 6067-01 A signature resin impregnation process uses standard fabrics such as hand woven cottons, open weaves, and solid fabrics to create forms that are self-supporting and multi-functional. Finished forms include chairs, lighting fixtures and modular wall panels that are customizable as well as abrasion and water resistant. Applications are for interior decorative and furniture use.

MC# 6087-01 Clear and colored biodegradable polymer films that dissolve completely in water.

These polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resins are designed to hold the contents of the package and maintain a good moisture barrier until immersed in water. They have good scratch and UV resistance and are stitchable, printable, weldable and may be die-cut. The resin dissolves with no residue and is safe for handling by consumers. Applications are for single use detergents and for water soluble yarns for embroidery and sewing.

MC# 6058-01 A waterproofing treatment designed specifically for denim. This durable finish maintains water resistance in all conditions, withstands repeated washings, and has similar breathability to synthetic textiles. It also offers stain repellency and enhanced durability without affecting the hand of the material.

For rainwear and outerwear apparel.

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Contact information for the manufacturers of the materials on these pages is available in Material ConneXion’s online database, materialconnexion.com.

For information on how to become a subscriber, e-mail us at access@materialconnexion.com.

MC# 5946-03 A metal mesh with small openings which is characterized by oval spirals with multiple waved cross rods. It is available in stainless steel, bronze, copper, aluminum, silver or gold in a matte or glossy surface. The mesh is made from a round or flat spiral wire and up to 3-7 cross rods per spiral. Applications are for wall and ceiling coverings, partitions, interior and exterior facades and cladding, shading, conveyer belts in food industries, jewelry and art objects.

MC# 6055-01 Molded polymer based fiber forms that can be joined together to create one of an almost infinite number of different patterns. These are typically used as room dividers in residential and commercial spaces for privacy and sound absorption. They are slightly flexible and impact resistant. Four versions of the same silhouette are sold in packs of 10 and available in red, green, light gray, brown and black.

MC# 2705-02 A poured-in-place running and sports surface that is sustainable, durable and easy to install. This polyurethane (TPU) rubber, flexible, high friction flooring can be painted, installed indoors or outdoors and can withstand the use of running spikes. The surface is porous and self draining, and is offered with a smooth ‘sharkskin’ texture for tennis or a rougher surface for running. It has been certified Cradle to CradleSM Silver.

MC# 4996-12 Modular tile system that easily interlocks to create flexible room dividers and wall coverings any dimension and any color configuration for residential and interior commercial spaces. These shapes consist of a polyurethane foam core in one of five different shape configurations covered in three different felt-like fabric types and over 100 colors.The tiles are washable and are Class 1 flame retardant for ASTM E-84 and supplied with a frame and suspension system.

MC# 5257-02 A composite textile of bark cloth, hemp and wool is 100% plant fiber cultivated from Mutuba trees (Ficus natalensis) on eco-certified farms in Uganda. This mechanically treated bast fiber is manufactured without any textile agents or other chemicals. A special weaving technique in which the wool fibers are woven through the structure of the bark cloth allows for a thick, nubby material that can be customized according to the client’s needs, dyed to any color and is machine washable. An average cloth measures approx. 2 x 3 meters.

MC# 5304-03 Translucent, holographic textile with threelayers of stretchable material that can be treated to be non-flammable. A white monofilament inlay (trevira), sandwiched between a transparent black face layer and a colorful backing creates a holographic 3D-effect.The material is available in widths 185 - 230 cm (33.4 x 90.5 in), in white, black and orange.

Applications are for interior design, for example for drapery, room dividers, lampshades and accessories.

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24 New Materials

MC# 6098-01 Transparent acoustical ceiling panels that are lightweight. These polycarbonate honeycomb panels with a polymer core have been perforated with a fine array of holes. They offer a B1 fire rating according to DIN 4102.

Applications are for ceilings, as partitions, and in offices and lobbies to improve sound absorption in front of glass surfaces.

MC# 6104-01 100% stainless steel hook and loop fastener used to repeatedly attach and detach components. This metal hook and loop fastener exhibits a high load transmission in shearing direction, can be attached and detached without any tools and offers further functionalities like shock absorption and thermal resistance ). Possible applications are for the automotive industries, building services engineering, installation, architecture and design.

MC# 6101-01 A process for the coating of metal and plastic parts with a nickel-based alloy that does not use electricity but a catalytic process, where the part is immersed in a bath of nickel and phosphorus salts and is often used on complex shapes with inside areas that are beyond the “throw� of electrolytic nickel.

An example is a gun barrel. Applications are found in the automotive and aircraft industry, medical device engineering, electronics and household appliances.

MC# 6103-01 Strong, custom designed weatherproof and temperature resistant RFID-data carriers are used for quality control and the optimization of technical production and logistic processes. The contact-free data transfer between the RFID data carrier and a RFID reader takes place via electromagnetic fields is and without need of a sightline. The manufacturer offers different basic types of data carrier. The data carriers can be used as product labeling in all industries.

MC# 6121-01 Rigid modular tiles with bristles for use as interior and architectural surfaces. Nylon fibers are secured in acrylic, polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrates to create a sound absorbing, textural surface. The diameter, stiffness, density and length of the brush bristles may be customized, as well as the color or tile shape.The surface topography may also be cut to create an undulating form or sculptural object.

MC# 6125-01 High quality coated offset printing paper that contains a minimum of 30% post consumer waste paper as well as FSC chain of custody and SFI Fiber sourcing certifications; Also produced using certified renewable energy, the paper is offered in Gloss, Dull and Dull Cream surfaces and in a variety of text page and cover weights. They are used for offset printing of brochures, promotional items, catalogs and books.

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Contact information for the manufacturers of the materials on these pages is available in Material ConneXion’s online database, materialconnexion.com.

For information on how to become a subscriber, e-mail us at access@materialconnexion.com.

MC# 5652-02 Acoustical wall fabric made from 100% sheep wool, which absorbs sound and mechanical impact energy while providing thermal insulation. A laminated moisture barrier prevents condensation and promotes easy installation. The underlay is durable, resilient, and resistant to flame and compression.

An antimicrobial treatment prevents mold, fungus, and bacteria growth. Compared to foam products, this is extremely resilient and long lasting. Applications include an underlay for laminate, engineered, hardwood floors and on walls.

MC# 5805-05 Flexible strands of light emitting diodes (LED) that offer increased brightness and can be installed in curved patterns or surfaces. This robust, over-molded design keeps moisture out and protects components from failure, while delivering bright, uniform light for up to 35,000 hours. One universal, low-voltage power supply will operate any color LED, simplifying electrical wiring and reducing labor costs. Currently, these lights are used in architectural signage, accent lighting, and canopy lighting.

MC# 6127-01 Green roof system that is suitable for flat and sloping roofs. It comprises a pre-cultivated vegetation blanket a water retention mat of recycled PAC fibers, a drainage mat and a low density polyethylene (PE-LD) rood barrier. This system installs easily onto existing buildings. No soil or substrate layers needed or heavy maintenance required. Applications are for commercial buildings and traffic islands.

MC# 3296-03 Recyclable carpet fiber that utilizes 25% post consumer recycled content. This carpet fiber is a trilobal nylon 6, solution-dyed polymer that is suitable for heavy use commercial flooring applications. It is available in over 200 colors and has good stain resistance and colorfastness.. It is a Silver Certified Cradle to CradleSM product and may be used as tufting for the company’s complete range of broadloom and tile flooring.

MC# 6120-01 Rigid mouldings of 100% ABS polymer that is non toxic and 100% recyclable. Recycled resin granules from engineered grade polymers from post-industrial waste streams are moulded into shells for furniture design. It is machinable with traditional timber hand and power tooling, also suitable for stapling, routing, drilling and nailing. Applications include furniture components, seating for parks and gardens, and table tops for the furniture manufacturing industry.

MC# 6123-01 Paper made from the processing of elephant dung pulp containing short to medium grained fibrous materials from the elephant’s diet which consists of grasses, bamboo & fruits. Once the dung is dried it is rinsed with water, leaving only fibrous materials which are then mixed with natural fibers from banana trees and pineapples to make the paper thicker & stronger. Applications include journals, note boxes, greeting cards, picture frames, photo albums, and small storage boxes.

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PHOTO Courtesy of Ossur (www.ossur.com)

In baseball, there are the infamous pine tar and cork incidents.

In swimming, talk still swirls around manufactured sharkskin suits. Nowhere, however, is the topic of materials and their impact in sports more curious than in the case of Oscar Pistorius.

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Oscar Pistorius Materials & Athletics at the Limits

By Richard J. Lombard

Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee since early childhood, has been a competitive sprinter for the past five years. Racing in the Paralympics and other competitions for athletes with disabilities, Pistorius has risen to the top of his field which includes runners with lesser disabilities. He has been able to run competitively thanks to unusual prosthetics known as “Cheetahs.”

The Cheetah prosthetic foot, manufactured by Ossur in Iceland, is a curved carbon-fiber plate that attaches to a custom socket that Pistorius fixes to each of his knees.

The feet, also known as “blades,” are created from multiple layers of carbon fiber laid one on top of the other. As with so many sports where the difference between first and second place is measured in hundredths of seconds, the number of layers is carefully calculated dependent upon the weight that the foot needs to support. Large pieces of layered sheets are bent to form the shape of the blade, and then cut to create the individual prosthetics.

These remarkably delicate looking pieces are very light—an example we used in an exhibition weighed less than 1.5 pounds (.7 kg)—yet are capable of withstanding not only the weight of an adult runner, but the forces generated during world-class sprinting. During the development process Pistorius cracked more than a few prototypes, keeping the Ossur team focused on making them stronger and stronger. With a price of some US$15,000 per blade, those are some expensive wipe-outs.

As he became more and more dominant in Paralympic competition Pistorius, the current world-record holder in the 100-, 200-,400meter distances, began to enter competitions not restricted to disabled athletes. Running in the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) Golden Gala

in Rome, Pistorius finished second; but in the British Grand Prix he slipped in the wet conditions, placed seventh, and was later disqualified for running out of his lane.

His ultimate goal, though, has been to run in the Olympics; and to that end he hoped to qualify for this year’s Beijing Games. Unfortunately, the IAAF ruled that his prosthetics gave him an advantage over regularly-abled runners. This was decided after they reviewed extensive testing and found a number of possible advantages in the carbon fiber blades.

The most oft-cited result of the testing was that Pistorius was able to use 25% less energy over a measured distance than an able-bodied runner, an indication that his blades gave him a mechanical advantage. However, other tests seem to indicate that the blades are less efficient than the human leg, and lose 20% of the energy that are put into them. Other arguments against his participation focus on the fact that the length of his stride could be lengthened by the prosthetics; while those in favor of his running cite the fact that the prosthetics have little traction in wet conditions, and that Pistorius has to constantly adjust his stride to accommodate for small movements between his legs and the sockets.

There are relatively few absolutes in this debate, and it will most likely rage for quite a long time.

Wherever materials interact with human performance, there will always be questions as to who or what is actually responsible for that performance. What cannot be questioned, however, is the fact that materials can enable a person without legs to not only walk, but to run with the fastest people on the planet. Wherever his career takes him, Oscar Pistorius is an inspiration to many and a shining example of the limitless resources of the human spirit and technological progress.

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Use Your Head

—and Protect it at the Same Time. by Richard Lombard

It is a quiet summer Tuesday in a small town: people are out and about, enjoying the last hours of the sunny afternoon. The approaching evening is preceded by the typical bustle of people running some last-minute errands, picking up the kids from school, or getting in some exercise after work.

Suddenly, the everyday hum of life is perforated by the ominous screech of car tires, and a sickening thud as two objects meet at speed. A cyclist hurrying home has tried to cross an intersection on a yellow light, and a car on its way to an appointment has timed the green so as not to disturb a bag of groceries on the back seat. Two seemingly harmless events culminating in a very harmful way.

In this particular case, however, the ending was not tragic, because the cyclist was wearing a helmet.

The helmet, deformed by the force of the impact, absorbed the energy of the crash that would have been transmitted to the head of the rider, saving her life. The broken bones and cuts will heal, but a severe trauma to the head would not have been reversible.

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Cycling helmets are a fairly recent development— the first commercially successful helmet, the Bell Biker, was created in the mid-1970s. Those of us riding in the late 70s and early 80s will wistfully remember either resembling a large mushroom or admiring those around us looking like rolling fungi. The basic concept and materials used in the Biker—a molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) interior covered with a hard shell (Lexan, in this case)—have not changed much over time, but it is not for lack of trying.

The most pronounced material changes have come in the choices used to cover the foam portion of the helmet. EPS is a remarkable material when it comes to absorbing impact, but it is otherwise not a particularly durable material. As anyone who has used a 99- cent foam cooler can attest, it does not take much to dent, crack or rip the foam. In helmets, it is very important that the foam remain undamaged: a minor deformation of the foam can cause it to fail in a real crash. Most bicycle helmets are not designed to withstand more than one crash,

Use Your Head

Manufacturers can make helmets lighter, more aerodynamic (though most of us don’t ride fast enough to have this make a difference), and flashier —but in the end, if you ride a bike, it is up to you to wear one.

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PHOTO Courtesy of Bell Helmet

Some manufacturers have experimented with nonfoam impact protection, usually trying to create a mechanical absorption method of some sort. Air bladders have been tried, along with other structures to transfer impact forces. A recently announced technology from Cascade uses a novel structure of linked tubes that create both good ventilation and a crush zone that absorbs impacts while also transfering it into lateral energy. The system was launched in both hockey and lacrosse helmets last year, and has attracted the interest of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.

Unfortunately, that use is not widespread enough.

Here in the US, the percentage of riders regularly wearing a helmet soared through the 1990s from less than 20% to around 50%. That number seems to have been stuck at that level in the new millennium, and little headway is being made. Manufacturers find that weight and overall comfort are issues with many people, as is style, and there are hundreds of models out there to choose from as a result.

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Some manufacturers have experimented with different foams—EPP (expanded polypropylene) and EPU (expanded polyurethane) for instance—but the majority of helmets still use EPS. While it is a relative of the 99-cent cooler, decades of development have fine tuned its capabilities and made it so effective as an impact absorbing material that it is difficult for companies to justify a change.

While most accidents don’t go anywhere near the limits that the helmets are designed for, extreme situations—like the one that introduced the article (based on a real accident in which a 65-year-old woman was hit broadside by a car traveling at 55 mph (88 km/h))—provide engineers with the most useful information. In all, tens of thousands of helmets have been returned: useful information for the engineers and a good indication of the widespread use of helmets.

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The Biker’s Lexan made it a very durable helmet, but its weight was significant. Some manufacturers substituted Lycra or mesh covers that weighed next to nothing and allowed for good ventilation, but provided only moderate protection from minor damage that might contribute to a helmet’s failure. Currently, most helmets have what is called a “microshell” covering —a thin polyester or polyethylene shell that is strong enough to protect the helmet from minor damage, but thin enough to maintain a low weight for the product.

Many helmet manufacturers have helmet replacement policies: if your helmet is damaged in a crash, you can send it in for a credit toward a new one. Given the one-use format of helmets, this would seem to be simply good business; however, it is more than that. When helmets are returned, along with specifics of the crash, engineers can see the impact (literally) of a “real-world” situation on their design. Information on the level of head injury, if any, along with the physical evidence of the damaged helmet can inform the next generation of products.

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and can be damaged by very minor impacts. As a result, the cover of the helmet must perform the task of keeping the foam intact and ready for its real job, but it does not need to do much more than that.

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by Andrew H. Dent, Ph.D.

D3o moldable resin MC# 5536-01

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Proper Protection

Innovative materials provide protection from the elements and slightly harder things

Conventional wisdom says that to keep cool in the sun, one should wear light-colored apparel that reflects the heat as opposed to darker colors which absorb it. This has been true since pigmentation was first created, and my poor shorts-clad legs proved this theory every time that I sat down in the black vinyl seat of my parents’ car on a summer day.

The heat from the sun’s rays is caused by radiation from the ultraviolet (UV) to the infrared (IR) part of the spectrum that includes all visible colors: the visible range is, in fact, only a small portion of the spectrum. It is possible to block the IR rays through specific types of pigmentation that do not affect the visible part, and these have been used for some time in paints for metal roofs as a way to reduce the heat build-up on industrial buildings.

difference was also seen in the interior of motorcycle apparel treated with the finish.

processes and materials, is compliant with the Bluesign® environmental health and safety standard used.

Schoeller Textil, a Swiss textile company known for its development of high performance fabrics is also offering this technology in stretch and non-stretch wool and nylon woven fabrics including Schoeller®-Dynatec high-tensile protective and Schoeller-Dryskin performance soft-shell fabrics.

In these materials, the finish is applied during the dyeing process and may be combined with the company’s other performance technologies such as their self-cleaning, oil-repellent and abrasion-resistant NanoSphere® finishing technology. The finish is also compatible with its stainrepellent, moisture-wicking and quick-drying 3XDry® finish, and, with regard to manufacturing

The advertisements used to say, “Never let them see you sweat!”

With these materials, you can keep your cool (and your legs un-singed).

Perhaps you play a little harder than that. You’re not so concerned about a little heat, but rather the impending impact of the ground to your body (or vice versa): what, say you, do you have for that?

Recently, two new products based upon similar technology, that of dilatancy, have been introduced to the market that might just be of some help in those situations.

The phenomenon of dilitancy (no relation to those dilettantes you PHOTO TFL Cool System by TFL Leather Technology limited

This technology allows dark paint colors to effectively look white to IR rays, reflecting almost 100% of IR radiation and reducing the amount of heat developed. Pigmentation of this type has also been developed for the leather tanning industry for application in leather apparel and (shorts-wearing boys and girls breathe a sigh of relief) automotive upholstery. TFL, the company creating these leather products, has conducted tests that show a difference in surface temperature of some 8-10° Celsius (14-18° Fahrenheit) between untreated and treated leathers. Those tests were conducted in closed vehicles that utilize UV-blocking glass, and the company estimates that the difference in temperature would be between 20-25°C (36-45°F) for convertibles and other open vehicles such as watercraft.

An enormous temperature

Infra Red Image (top) and Thermographic Image (below) show the difference in heat absorption between treated and untreated garments.

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might know) refers to fluids that stiffen on increased shear such as might occur due to an impact force or blunt trauma.

The first of these two materials is called D3o, from a UK company that creates custom molded parts for applications such as soccer shin guards, snowboarding knitted caps and downhill ski apparel. The material in its raw form is a viscous gel that can be formed into shapes, but will flow (slowly) to find its level. If one subjects the formed shape to a sharp blow, however, it will maintain its form rather than splatter. The dilatant is dispersed into an injection molded elastomer that maintains flexibility and form during normal movement, but

exhibits the same resistance as the gel under impact. The sheet size is limited by the size that can be cast in one mold, which is currently around 330 x 400 mm (13 x 15.75 in), but pieces may be attached to each other to span larger dimensions.

A limitation of the product is its relatively high density, and therefore weight. The Advanced Protection System, sold by Dow, overcomes this issue by incorporating the dilatant into a 3-D spacer textile, coating the filaments and causing them to stiffen in response to a force. This product has already been adapted for use in motorcycle apparel (clearly, motorcycle riders are in need of all the help that they

can get—exposed to the elements and every hard object that they might encounter). The geometry of the spacer textile allows it to breathe as well. The sheet is typically 4.8 mm (0.19 in) thick, is available in 1300 mm (51.2 in) wide.

Both of these products achieve a degree of ‘smart’ protection: offering their optimum performance when needed (during a fall or impact) and returning to a more flexible state time after time.

So, no matter what your game, materials can help you stay cool, calm, and protected from a variety of ills. Just remember to keep your eye on the ball and your head in the game (and a helmet!).

APS (Active Protection System) flexible Textile MC# 5858-01

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Material ConneXionÂŽ Bangkok A division of Thailand Creative & Design Center A division of IKMD, Office of the Prime Minister 6th Floor, The Emporium Shopping Complex 622 Sukhumvit 24 Bangkok 10110 Thailand Tel +66 (0) 2 664 8448 FAX +66 (0) 2 664 8459 Email infothailand@materialconnexion.com web http://www.materialconnexion.com/th Apisit Laistrooglai Managing Director Chompoonuj Weerakitti Library Director Yada Mahamongkol Business Development Manager Dararat Mekkriengkrai Materials Researcher Sujiga Chuenjai Account Executive Jintana Choopromwong Client Service Officer

Thai Eco Design Competition The 1st Thai EcoDesign Program of 2008 was organized

by Thai Green Design Network (TGDN) which has been established by National Metal and Material Technology Center (MTEC) under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). In addition, EcoDesign 2008 program is supported by Ministry of Industry, Thailand Creative & Design Center and many other organizations.

EcoDesign, also known as Economic & Ecological Design, is a strategic design tool for environmental management aimed especially at developing countries to simultaneously decrease the environmental impact while reducing the costs of product development.

The EcoDesign Program integrates economic and environmental aspects into product design which include Life Cycle awareness in every step of production. From raw material choices, to the design and manufacturing processes, distribution, consumer use, and post-disposal product life, the EcoDesign concept is applied to every step of the product life cycle. By focusing attention on true recycling capabilities, weight reduction, lifetime extension, incorporating modular components, or the elimination of unnecessary components, the sustainable development offered by the EcoDesign Program can significantly benefit local businesses, communities and the environment.

For more information, please visit: → http://www.mtec.or.th/th/special/ecodesign2008

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Material ConneXion® Cologne A division of SURVEY Marketing + Consulting GmbH & Co. KG Lichtstrasse 43 G 50825 Köln Germany Tel

+49 (0) 221 99 22 28 0 FAX +49 (0) 221 99 22 28 11 infogermany@materialconnexion.com http://www.materialconnexion.com/de

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Peter Meyer President Martin Beeh General Manager Karsten Bleymehl Director of Library & Materials Research Marc-Oliver Lieving Business Development Manager Anne Farken Material Researcher Margarete Meyer Account Executive Chantal Ternes Office Manager Anke Wöhler Public Relations

Material ConneXion Cologne presents “Textiles+more” at Heimtextil 2008

Design highlights during the 2008 “Passagen” in Cologne: “Materials for Future Living”, at Material ConneXion Cologne

Sensuality, sustainability, personalization and functionality are key issues in the future for product developers, designers and architects. The “Textiles+ more” special exhibition at Frankfurt’s Heimtextil 2008 (January 9-12, Germany) proved that the future is already underway.

Material ConneXion Cologne put its “instantly accessible” inspiration of the material kind on show: The presentation provided a wealth of material ideas for innovative and creative property fittings and interior design.

At “Materials for Future Living”, all interested in design could find a host of new ideas. Material ConneXion Cologne presented exciting new ideas for interior design, furniture design and interior decoration during the “Passagen” in Cologne (14-20 January). The exclusive exhibition of “Materials for Future Living” was set up at Material ConneXion Cologne’s showroom at the Vulkan complex in Cologne-Ehrenfeld. Exhibitors included the well-known companies Alcan Composites, Ciba Xymara, Royal Mosa, Twentinox, ThyssenKrupp Nirosta, Viro, and the German designer Frank Person.

The materials ideas behind “Textiles+more” were developed to open up completely new perspectives for designers —after all, the joy of experimenting and extending your horizons are sure to pay off in practice.

To achieve this, the exhibition provided a selection of original materials samples and condensed product information arranged under the four main headings mentioned above. Our materials experts were also on hand at all times to discuss any queries visitors may have relating to materials.

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Interior design, furniture design and interior decoration increasingly feature exciting surfaces and innovative materials. The elegance of the unique combined with optimum functionality and a wide choice of materials are becoming the basis for progressive decoration solutions. With this year’s exhibition, Material Connexion Cologne once again drew many visitors to the “Vulkan” by presenting a multifaceted view of tomorrow’s designs for furniture and interiors.

Material ConneXion® Milano, s.r.l. materials library

Via Davanzati, 33 20158, Milano Italy +39 02 39 32 55 85 FAX +39 02 39 32 12 39 infoitalia@materialconnexion.com Web http://www.materialconnexion.com/it Tel

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showroom: la triennale di milano

Viale Alemagna, 6 20121, Milano Italy

+39 02 72 43 42 55 FAX +39 02 39 32 12 39 triennale@materialconnexion.com web http://www.triennale.it Tel

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Michele Perini President Andrea Cancellato General Manager Manuela Cifarrelli Managing Director Emma Clerici Library Director Alessandro De Biase Business Development Manager Paolo Cancellato Account Executive Micol Costi Material Specialist Chiara Crosti Activities Coordinator Claudia Reder Material Researcher

Concept Wood 2008: Astral and Sideral Atmospheres in Design Trends On January 31, before attending the MADE Expo fair, Alpi presented “Concept Wood 2008” in the Material ConneXion showroom at Triennale Milano.

The new collection of the multilayer decorative wood is the result from the cooperation between the Alpi R&D Division and the designer Elisabetta Tanesini.

Concept Wood 2008 expresses at best the technological innovation on wood, the research on chromatic combinations and highly decorative textures. Due to its preciousness and natural style, the collection is a point of reference for interior design and furnishing trends.

Salone del Mobile 2008 Once again, Material ConneXion will be participating in the biggest design event of the year – the Salone del Mobile. Held from April 16 to the 21, Salone attracts some 300,000 visitors from around the world, including almost 200,000 foreign visitors and 4,500 press. Our exhibition, which will be centered around sustainability, will be located at the entrance to pavilions 14-18 which is the same location for those of you who attended last year. Featuring materials and products that illuminate ideas for a more sustainable future, our installation will both educate and inspire. If you are at Salone, please stop by and say hello!

The prototypes shown at Material ConneXion Milano present a wide range of silver, blue and green tonalities in combinations that represent the star constellations, and bare their names: Apus, Auriga e Draco, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Orion Phoenix, Perseus, Chamaleon, Lynx, Cygnus, Hydra, Caelum, etc.

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Material ConneXion®, Inc. 127 West 25th Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10001U.S.A Tel

+1 212 842 2050 FAX +1 212 842 1090 info@materialconnexion.com http://www.materialconnexion.com

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George M. Beylerian Founder & President Michele Caniato Executive Vice President Andrew Dent, Ph.D. Vice President, Library and Materials Research Maider Irastorza Director of Sales, advanced material solutions teamsm Henry King Director of Corporate Administration Michael LaGreca Director of Library Access Programs, Publications & Cultural Activities Richard Lombard Director of Public Programs Carmen Alfred Client Access Coordinator and Receptionist Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe Manager of Public Programs Terence Harris Assistant Facilities Management Gail Jones Senior Account Executive Awa Kamara Account Executive for Library Access Programs Lauren Levinsohn Material Archivist Sarah Natkins Director of Communications and Marketing Beatrice Ramnarine Materials Specialist Jake Remington Library Assistant and Project Manager Hilda Thomas Accounting Cynthia Tyler, Ph.D. Senior Materials Specialist Anika Vorndamme Exec. Assistant to the President, Int’l Licensing Liason Adrienne Wheatley Exec. Assistant to Executive Vice President Alison Zingaro Marketing and Communications Coordinator

George Beylerian to be Keynote Speaker at the Residential Design and Construction Convention in Boston Material ConneXion founder, George Beylerian will be the keynote presenter at the Residential Design and Construction Convention and Trade Show sponsored by the Boston chapter of the AIA. Residential Design and Construction (RDC),which runs from April 2-3, 2008, is the only event in the country dedicated to both aspects of the building industry. Through a variety of exhibits, workshops, and events, RDC provides the residential design industry with access to the wealth of new technologies, products, and services that have emerged over the past decade.

Mr. Beylerian will present recent material accomplishments in architecture and design providing case studies and interviews from his recently published book, Ultra Materials: How Material Innovation is Changing the World. He will also discuss why materials matter, the latest trends in material development and usage, how materials are innovating a range of architectural and design disciplines, and the future of materials.

International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) Once again, from May 17- 20, 2008, Material ConneXion will be participating in a wide range of activities at this years’ ICFF at the Jacob K. Javits Center.

In addition to its own booth, Material ConneXion is partnering with George Little Management to present Materials Matter, a “show within the show” featuring innovative materials from a variety of manufacturers. Keep your eyes open for the specially-branded section of the fair.

Additionally, we will be participating in two presentations: First, on Sunday, May 18th, our very own authors, George M. Beylerian and Andrew H. Dent, PhD, will participate in a panel discussion with designers featured in their recent book, Ultra Materials. This will take place at 2:00PM in the ICFF Theater.

The next day, Monday, May 19th, international trend forecaster Li Edelkoort and Dr. Dent will present an architectural-and-interiors-themed afternoon, sharing their considerable expertise in the areas of trends, colors, and materials. This presentation will take place at 1:00PM at the Tishman Auditorium on West 12th Street.

For more information on these programs please contact us at info@materialconneXion.com.

We hope to see you there!

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PHOTO Courtesy of ICFF

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For further information, membership or a presentation customized to meet your needs please call 212.842.2050 or email info@materialconnexion.com

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