Trendwatch Durability - Car Design News

3/11/2014 Trendwatch: Durability - Car Design News

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Artificial diamonds made from cremation ashes by Algordanza. Click forlarger images

Zirconia ceramic knives

Narciso Rodriguez perfume bottle with a cap made using DuPont Surlyn

Trendwatch: Durabilityby WGSN-homebuildlife Team 26 Feb 2014

This report was first published by our partners WGSN-homebuildlife on 20February.

WGSN explores the latest innovations in material durability, from physical

strength to material lifespan, as well as new developments in self-healing and

self-sustaining materials.

Shortcuts

Invincible: superhero strength from durable materials that are as tough asmollusc shells and Kevlar vestsLifelong: materials are developed to age well, last forever, or open up

systems for consumers to repair them easily rather than discard them

Innate Strength: granite, stone, rattan and diamonds are worked intoproducts to offer a core strength and natural feel across interiorsSelf-sustaining: self-healing and self-preserving materials reduce the

time and effort of maintenanceHybrids: materials are combined or substituted to create hybrids thatbring together the best properties of each

We are in an age that is reflecting a cultural shift in consumer culture, as we dareto peer over our shoulder at the receding financial crisis. New consumerbehaviours are evolving with thoughtful spending, a return to simple lifestylesand a greater range of materials emerging from both nature and science. In thiscontext, durability is not only concerned with 'rugged' materials, but also thenotion of emotional durability: objects that age with dignity, allow provisions forupgrading and generally mean we keep using the same things for longer. Asthese new consumer experiences evolve, so do our expectations of products.The emergence of lighter and better products has brought forth a demand forperfection and durability, which is often unattainable.

Working with durability in mind, designers are creating modular designs,systems, finishes and processing technologies that allow us to break the mouldof the current mass-production market, thereby letting people repair theirproducts for easy maintenance.

Technology is evolving to provide more complex and efficient solutions too, suchas Polaris' TerrainArmor tires and the first carbon 3D printer, which can printparts up that are up to 20 times stiffer than common plastic. Not forgetting the

use of natural tough, rough textures that express the inherent properties of

materials in simple bold statements.

Zirconia ceramics

Zirconia is a commonly used high-performance ceramic. Used in preference to

alumina because it is tougher and will resist cracking more easily, its particlesare small, giving it a sleek surface finish that is suitable for products such as

blades, pistons and bearings or even luxury jewellery.

DuPont Surlyn ionomer resins

Commonly used in golf balls for its high scratch-resistant properties, DuPont'sSurlyn resin delivers impact toughness and abrasion- and chemical-resistance

beyond that of standardised resins. The material's exceptional clarity sees itused in premium perfume bottles, such as Narciso Rodriguez's Essence.

Fused silica

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ionomer resins

Inox-Spectral in Privé Lounge Club, Barcelona

Wood pulp cellulose nanocrystals

Fused silica glass in the International Space Station Cupola observationmodule

Fused silica is one of the super-glasses. It can withstand operatingtemperatures of up to 1200ºC for short periods and 900ºC for a sustained time.

This specialist glass, also known as quartz glass or fused quartz, forms one ofthe highly heat-resistant materials used in the exterior of space shuttles.

Inox-Spectral

The unique Inox-Spectral process by Inox-Color creates colour effects onstainless steel using a computer-controlled electro-chemical process to build up

a durable chrome-oxide layer, comparable to an anodized surface. The colourdepends on the thickness of this layer and the angle of light refraction.

Super-tough glass

Montreal's McGill University has developed super-tough glass based on the

mother-of-pearl interior of a mollusc

By replicating the internal structure of a mollusc's iridescent interior (also knownas nacre or mother-of-pearl), glass can achieve the same inherent strength,stiffness and toughness of this sea creature's shell. The secret is micro-cracksengraved into the glass, which are invisible to the naked eye. These miniature

'fractures' give strength to this otherwise brittle material by reinforcing thestructure as cracks spread, creating controlled impact dissipation that preventsthe glass from shattering.

Cellulose nanocrystals

Wood-waste-derived cellulose nanocrystals form a transparent and lightweightmaterial that is stronger than Kevlar and less than 10% of its cost. These superbqualities are suitable for the military as well as automotive, aerospace, medical

and consumer electronic industries.

Gold nanomesh



Dystopian Brutalist Outerwear by Marti jn van Strien

© 2014 Car Design News Ltd

Gold nanomesh conductor developed by University of Houston researchers

An innovation in the field of electronics, this transparent, flexible mesh consists ofgolden nanowires that are more conductive and durable that previous prototypes.A key benefit of this invisible nanotextile is that it is durable and will continue to

conduct electricity under strain and flex.

Heavy-duty tarpaulin clothing

A recent Design Academy Eindhoven graduate, Martijn van Strien explores aseries of Dystopian Brutalist Outerwear made using a single piece of heavy-duty

black tarpaulin. His collection is based on an imaginative narrative inspired byBrutalist architecture, the nub of the Modernist architectural movement.

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TECU Patina building facade by KME. Click for larger images

Concrete, steel, copper and oak Melbourne tables by Sigurd Larsen

Round, Square and Wedge Lustre l ights by Tom Dixon

Trendwatch: Durability

Lifelong

TECU Patina

TECU Patina pre-patinated copper sheets by KME are ready to implement in

urban architecture without having to wait for the gradual oxidation of coppercaused by natural weathering. The patinated green colour is constantly evolvingin various hues, depending on atmospheric exposure. The sheets can be

processed like standard industrial rolled copper for diverse purposes to give

surfaces a weathered look.

Socrates socks

Kevlar-carbon and Lycra socks by Socrates

A pair of Socrates Socks is designed to last forever. The hole-free socks aremade from a bulletproof Kevlar-carbon matrix, preventing toe holes, limp fabric,or worn bottoms. In addition, Lycra fabric with anti-droop technology maintainsthe comfort of the rest of foot. It is one of the first uses of military-grade Kevlarapplied in everyday applications.

Melbourne by Sigurd Larsen

Berlin-based Danish architect Sigurd Larsen has designed a furniture collection

that experiments with materials carefully chosen to age in a harmonious way. Acombination of untreated oak, leather, copper and concrete on uniform square

steel frames are juxtaposed to accentuate the worn-out effects on the horizontaltops over time.

Lustre by Tom Dixon

Tom Dixon's Lustre lighting collection is a series of handmade stoneware

lampshades that exhibit a lustrous patina created by using a glaze composed ofminerals and refined metals. The colour spectrum of each individual lampshade

varies, from a pale lime to a deep green, as a result of the unrepeatablehandmade process.

Tabby by OSVehicle


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Modular phones by Phonebloks x Motorola

TerrainArmor airless tires by Polaris

Mark One 3D carbon printer by MarkForged (above and below)


Tabby self-assembly car by OSVehicle

This open-source car can be assembled in less than an hour to provide an

accessible vehicle for two to four people. Dubbed 'the Ikea car', the modulardesign allows for easier maintenance and repair than traditional vehicles, which

can significantly prolong its lifespan.

Phonebloks x Motorola

Motorola has teamed up with Design Academy Eindhoven graduate DaveHakkens to develop his modular mobile phone system Phonebloks. The conceptfeatures mix-and-match components that clip on to a central board, making it

easy to customise the phone but also to upgrade outdated hardware instead ofreplacing the whole phone.

TerrainArmor tires

Sportsman WV850 all-terrain vehicle with TerrainArmor tires by Polaris

New TerrainArmor by Polaris are airless polymeric tires with a distinctivehoneycomb shape. The durable non-pneumatic tires can sustain damage andmaintain shape without air. Despite the minimal density of the honeycombstructure, TerrainArmor tires offer a better centre of gravity and undisturbed

cornering, due to their multiple capabilities. The mesh structure's flexibilityabsorbs shocks from bumps on the roads.

Mark One 3D carbon printer

The Mark One is the world's first 3D printer that can print continuous carbon fibre.

Conventional 3D printing solutions have limitations in the strength of thematerials, which Mark One is attempting to overcome. Carbon fibre parts can beup to 20 times stiffer than standard plastic printed parts, and it is even possibleto prints parts with a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminium. Automotive

applications might be the most prominent area for this technology, but the printeropens up the potential to use carbon parts in areas where traditional carbon-fibreforming might not have been thought possible.

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Xpel Ultimate Self Healing Paint Protection Film by Xpel. Click forlarger images

Corvette Stingray with shape memory alloy wire by Chevrolet

Sil ic self-cleaning T-shirt by Sil ic Shirts

Fluid-repelling paper developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology


Self-sustaining

Self-healing films

Xpel's Ultimate and MacDermid Autotype's Autoflex HiForm M films have the

ability to self-heal and repair themselves of minor scratches. The surface of self-healing films is continually moving, which results in the scratches disappearingwithin 24 hours.

Shape-memory alloy wire

A shape memory alloy wire, made of nickel-titanium, reacts at certain highertemperatures to flex or shorten its internal structure, then returns to its originalshape as it cools. The heat-activated movement can replace conventional

electronic motor systems for a more efficient and cheaper option in automotive

applications. Chevrolet's Corvette Stingray adopted this smart material to open ahatch vent, using heat from an electrical current. It not only reduces the weight ofthe mechanism, but also expends the longevity of the system.

Heat-repairing films

Self-repairing Coated Film by Toray Advanced Film

The phone in the picture above is coated with a newly developed clear Self-

repairing Coated Film, by Japanese firm Toray Advanced Film, that has 'self-

healing powers'. While it can't prevent or repair actual body damage, surfacescratches and small blemishes from normal use magically disappear when thecoating is exposed to heat. The heat from the sun is sufficient, but gently

warming with a blow-dryer works just as well. The scratched surface will return toits original state, depending on the temperature and the depth of the scratch,

providing an exceptional long-term appearance to the finished product.

Silic self-cleaning T-shirt

Young entrepreneur Aamir Patel launched the most prominent liquid-repellent T-shirt to perform a self-cleaning duty. Soft polyester fabric in the Silic T-shirt is

layered with microscopic silica particles, which bond to the fibres and generate athin air obstacle around them. As the material never retains bacteria-attracting

moisture, it does not require washing as often as a regular T-shirt.

Fluid-repelling paper

In contrast to paper, which absorbs liquids, fluid-repellent paper has beendeveloped by a research team from the Georgia Institute of Technology for use in

inexpensive biomedical diagnostics and packaging. The paper mimics thewater-repelling effect of lotus leaves by layering a chemical coating onto the

etched superamphiphobic surface at the nanometer and micron-scale. Theresearchers demonstrated that droplets stayed on top of hydrophobic ink-printed

patterns, repelled by the adjacent superamphiphobic surface.

Self-cleaning tableware


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Ekoportal 2035 self-cleaning cellulose plate and cup by TomorrowMachine

NeverWet waterproofing spray


Ekoportal 2035 self-cleaning cellulose plate and cup by Tomorrow Machine

Commissioned by research company Innventia to prolong a discourse of how

materials from our forests will be used in 20 years, Stockholm-based TomorrowMachine proposed Ekoportal 2035, a collection that included self-cleaning

tableware. Made from tree cellulose and covered with a liquid-repellent coating todiscard fluids, the plate and cup never require dishwashing to be kept clean.

NeverWet waterproofing spray

NeverWet's spray makes any surface super-hydrophobic, not only repelling waterbut also flushing away dirt sitting on the treated surface. As the substrate is

protected from corrosion in humid or wet environments, while also remainingclean, it will look new for longer. Even surfaces that are easily damaged by water,such as cardboard, can be treated, opening up completely new uses for thispreviously short-lived material.

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Artificial diamonds made from cremation ashes by Algordanza. Click forlarger images

Stone House by John Pawson

Rattan-wrapped plastic Hybrid radio by Mathieu Lehanneur for Lexon


Innate

Diamonds

Precious stones have never been more valuable, as Swiss company Algordanza

aims to emphasise with its new line Memorial Diamonds. Each stonecommemorates a late relative or friend, but instead of wearing their jewellery, youare wearing them. The gems are made by compressing cremated human ashes

at high temperatures to create a hard, bluish diamond, which is then cut and

turned into a unique piece of jewellery.

Stone

Stone hooks by Helga Sigurbjarnadottir for Normann Copenhagen

Made from natural stone, each hook in the Stone collection by Icelandic designerHelga Sigurbjarnadottir for Normann Copenhagen is unique, and brings thebare, natural and rugged essence of the rocky Scandinavian landscape into anindoor space.

Granite

In colloquial language, granite has come to define a quality of ruggedness and

hardness; terms it justly deserves. Visually, it lacks the fine grain of marble,

instead, its typically oaty, coarse mosaic grains give an insight into its structure,which is made of up of mica – the shiny bits – feldspar and quartz. Granite is an

igneous rock, formed through the solidification of molten magma or lava cooledslowly under great pressure. It is commonly used in architecture, such as the

Stone House by John Pawson, which creates a balance between the heavy lookof the material and the minimal, light structure.

Rattan

The inherent toughness, flexibility, strength, relative lightweightness and

durability of rattan can be appreciated through its prolific use in furniture andbasket-making. Intricate weaving elevates this simple material into high-end

products, such as this Hybrid Radio for Lenox by Mathieu Lehanneur. The radiouses flexible rattan weave placed in contrast to rigid, manmade plastic to create

a beautiful and practical juxtaposition.

Hybrids

Arin table by Jean Louis Iratzoki


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Mineral-mix and quartz Watershed Block by Watershed Materials

KM5816 glass ceramic hob by Miele



The Arin table, the result of a collaboration between marble supplier Retegui and

designer Jean Louis Iratzoki, has been recently unveiled as a part of a newcollection at Maison & Objet. This elegant table seems to feature solid marble

and wood, but contains a well-hidden core of highly complex CNC-milledhoneycomb-shaped parts that considerably lighten the weight.

Watershed Blocks by Watershed Materials

Watershed building blocks are made using natural quartz grains and otherminerals to replace cement, an infamous contributor to global carbon dioxide

emissions. They have proven to be as durable as conventional blocks, with theadded value of eco-credentials and a warm, soft colour that will make the exteriorof a home feel as equally as comforting as its interior.

Glass ceramics

Glass ceramics are glass materials that have been 'ceramed' by introducingcrystals to the material. These are activated at high temperatures to change theamorphous structure into a crystaline one. This creates a material that isextremely high strength with a beautiful finish.

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A380-861 AirBus aeroplane with PPS Therma-Tech. Click for largerimages

TerraSkin water-resistant rock paper by TerraSkin

Super-Elastic Plastic by Inventables

Hand-made jeans by Gluejeans



PPS Therma-Tech by PolyOne

Therma-Tech is a thermally conductive compound that combines metal's heat

transfer and cooling capabilities with the design freedom, weight reduction andcost advantages of thermoplastic.

PaperStone by Latera Architectural Surfaces

PaperStone countertops by Latera Architectural Surfaces

Liquid-based resins derived from cashew nut shells are combined with 100%post-consumer recycled paper to produce PaperStone, a durable solid surfacematerial. In this process, sheets of recycled material are saturated with the resinand compressed using heat. These conditions produce an essentially non-porous, dense, solid surface material comprising many layers of fibre. Thematerial is hard, extremely stain-resistant and basically water-resistant.

TerraSkin

TerraSkin is a matte, luxe-finish paper made from calcium carbonate and high-density polyethylene. Calcium carbonate has previously been used as anadditive in pulp-based paper, but in TerraSkin it constitutes the main ingredient,with a content of around 80%. A small amount of HDPE acts as a bonding agentand makes the paper completely water-resistant. The texture is smoother thanpulp-based paper and, due to its durability and tear-resistance, it is oftenpossible to use thinner material than would be the case with traditional paper.

Super-Elastic Plastic by Inventables

Inventables' extremely elastic polymer Super-Elastic Plastic can be stretched up

to eight times its original size without tearing or ripping. The material can beinjection-moulded into any shape and is used in places where extreme

stretchiness and strength is required.

Gluejeans

Gluejeans has introduced a handmade process for denim that glues rather thanstitches pieces together. The technique is surprisingly effortless, coherent anddurable, resulting in a rough aesthetic. Each piece is joined together with

coloured glues that form graphically compelling features.

In association with


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Trendwatch Durability - Car Design News