Making it... Materials Databases Materials and the interaction between materials and design is a key issue in ecodesign. It is already apparent that the consequences of our resource use, in terms of environmental impact, are unsustainable. Design has a powerful influence on how people consume and use products. This influence includes the types and quantity of materials consumed, how the consumer responds to the materials and what happens to those materials when they have reached the end of their useful life. This places a greater responsibility on the designer to use materials in an intelligent way. The challenges posed by sustainability require us to innovate.  

Designers have responded to these emergent issues through the development of design approaches such as ecodesign and design for sustainability. Designers have the tools to design recycled content into products, design for recyclability and closed-loop product systems, design out toxic or hazardous materials, and to ensure the durability of products. Ecodesign thinking addresses a company’s materials, processes and practices and aims to design out waste. Importantly ecodesign thinking also identifies value and opportunity in the use of more sustainable materials and preventing “legacy waste” problems for future generations.

Forward by Simon O’Rafferty Ecodesign Centre

01 Introduction

 

 

Ecolect http://www.ecolect.net/  

Discover Green Materials Resource to help designers discover eco-material alternatives and resources to make it easier to design responsibly,

Free

 

Materials ConneXion http://www.materialconnexion.com/  

Membership Materials Library Resource for innovative and sustainable materials with extensive advance search options.

Charge

 

Mtrl http://mtrl.com/portal/site/mtrl/  

Materials Database With A Difference Browse, investigate and select materials using this visual, sensory and data resource.

Free

 

Materia http://www.materia.nl/  

Materialise The Future New materials to inspire designers. Keep up to date with innovative materials and their applications, plus trends in design.

Free with sign-up

 

Rematerialise http://www.kingston.ac.uk/rematerialise

Eco Smart Materials Extensive database of ‘sustainable’ materials by Jakki Dehn, a reader in Product and Furniture design at Kingston University.

Free

02 Material Databases

  

Sugru... Love What You Own Sugru is a silicone elastomer modelling material. It encourages users to repair and improve the things they already own instead of buying new things. This tough, flexible, moisture-curing silicone has a working time of 30 minutes and a cure time of 24 hours (3 – 5 mm deep). It forms a strong bond to aluminium, steel, ceramics, glass and other materials including most plastics. It has 70 Shore A hardness and cures flexible rather than rigid allowing it to be used on flexible substrates (i.e. textiles, cables, or shoes). It is waterproof, has good heat-resistance (-60°C to 180°C; -76 to 356°F), and can be used outdoors. It has good flame- and UV-resistance. The material can be cleaned with soap and water and is washing machine and dishwasher safe. If necessary the silicone can be removed by cutting when cured. It isn’t suitable for use in direct or prolonged

contact with food. It is intended to be shaped manually but can be compression moulded or extruded. It finds application as a sculptural material, for creating personal additions to products (customized grips) as well as for encasing products in a waterproof shell. Stiffness | Flexible, Rubbery Surface/Texture | Matte, Texture Transparency | Opaque Impact Resistance | Good Surface Hardness | Semi-hard, Soft Chemical Resistance | High Acoustics | Sound absorbing Water Resistance | High Wear Resistance | High Scratch Resistance | Medium Colourfastness | High Outdoor Use | Yes Tear Resistance | Medium Stain Resistance | High Recyclable | No

Sugru – Hack Things Better http://sugru.com/

03 Case Study

     

                                

TPE with Corn Starch Bioplastic Bioplastics perform a cycle. First, corn is transformed into pellets; second, the pellets are processed into products; third, they are "consumed" by people; and last but most importantly, they are returned to the ground without releasing pollutants. Developed by Italian Novamont, Mater Bi is a bioplastic that responds to the growing demand for materials that do not have a harmful impact on the environment. Nanocomposites and our impact on the environment are two of the fastest growing areas in plastics. Some materials wear their environmental credentials on their sleeve, such as Smile Plastics and Remarkable in the U.K. Mater Bi also ticks many green boxes. Derived from a rapidly renewable source, it is biodegradable and compostable.

The material is used for the production of the ‘Moscardino’ spoon/fork. Despite the scale, the material is slightly springy and has a lustrous tactile quality. Although soft to touch, it is very tough--tough enough to be used for dog chews. The material is easily processed, printable and sterile. It is also easy to colour. Stiffness | Flexible Toughness | Semi-durable Hardness | Malleable Temperature | Warm UV Resistant | No Chemical Resistant | Yes Food Grade | Yes Volume | Mass Production Cost | Relatively Expensive Timeline | Established Biodegradable | Yes Recyclable | Yes Renewable | Yes

Pandora Design – ‘Moscardino’ http://tiny.cc/Nxt7H

04 Case Study

  

                                    

Treeplast... Biocomposite Treeplast is a replacement thermoplastic for injection moulding. Composed of 50-70% wood chips, 20% ground corn, and 10% natural resin and additives. This natural alternative to thermoplastics may be processed in standard plastic injection moulding machines, but processes at a lower temperature, however, it takes twice as long to cool in the mould. The final product may be finished like wood and can be handled as MDF (medium density fibreboard), and is biodegradable. Must be treated with a lacquer finish in order to withstand water otherwise the product will dissolve in several hours. Available colours are natural, red, orange, blue, green, yellow, gray, and black. The density is 1.4 kg/m3 (2.36 lb/yd³). Potential applications are vast, but some current uses are golf tees, ice cups, jigsaw puzzles, acoustic panels, packaging, speakers,

televisions, and brush handles. It can be used in toys, golf tees, consumer products, and other building material applications. Stiffness | Stiff Surface/Texture | Matte Transparency | Opaque Impact Resistance | Poor Surface Hardness | Hard Acoustics | Sound reflecting Water Resistance | Medium Wear Resistance | Low Scratch Resistance | Medium Colourfastness | Medium Outdoor Use | No Stain Resistance | Medium Reflectivity | Light absorbing Usage Temperature | Low Fire Resistance | Low UV Resistance | Low Sustainability | Biodegradable, Non-toxic, Easily Recyclable, Renewable, Waste Materials.

Treeplast – more information: http://www.treeplast.com/treeplast.htm

05 Case Study