SCAD Emerging Manufacturing Materials

Bio-Based Vinyl

Shape-Memory Polyurethane Plastic

Hagfish Slime Fiber

X-Flex Bomb-Proof Wallpaper http://vimeo.com/7558394

What is it?

            X-Flex is a Kevlar sandwiched elastic surface that is stuck onto existing surfaces that can hold the structure of a building together.

Look/Feel:

            Looks like it is a plastic grid.

Applications:

            War zones, Natural Disaster prevention, Home security, reinforced transportation and more

Price and availability:

            X-Flex creators are working on developing a standard commercialized version for regular homeowners meaning one day this material will not be absurdly expensive.

Sources:

flexible LED light strips – Light Form

Ceylon Paper Pottery - Waterproof Paper

Noise Reducing Curtains

Secret Concrete 

Clear to Translucent Glass

Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdscnna5r1Q

Name:

                        TiFoam - Titanium Foam

What is it?

            Titanium Foam is just what the name suggests: titanium formed into a matric of foam. It has a porus structure similar to bone and is lighter because it requires less material. It is formed through a powder metallurgy based molding process. In this process Open Polyurethane foams are coated with a binding and titanium powder solution. Then the PU is burned away leaving only the aluminum matrix. This material has the best balance of durability and limited rigidity to make it invaluable for medical applications.

Look/Feel:

            Looks like a more open steel wool.

Applications:

            Medical implants, Lightweight frames, sporting equipment

Environmental impact:

            N/A. If used for medical implants as planned, the foam will stay in a person, with their bone growing around and through it for their lifetime.

            Price and availability: N/A

Sources:

- http://www.medgadget.com/2010/09/titanium_foam_as_new_material_for_implants.html

- http://www.gizmag.com/tifoam-titanium-bone-implants/16453/

Name:

            PNIPAAm (cotton polymer)

What is it?

            PNIPAAm is a cotton polymer that is super absorbent created at the Eindhoven University of Technology partnered with Hong Kong Polytechnic University. It is made by treating cotton at a low temperature with a polymer blend and results in a textile that can hold 340% of its own weight in water. Raw cotton can only hold 18% of its weight making this material astounding. It also is able to release pure water as it is heated.

Look/Feel:

            This material looks identical to regular cotton.

Applications:

            For use as a source of water in arid regions, agricultural, apparel, tents, third world country applications, clean water applications, survival gear, and more.

Environmental impact:

This one is a mixed bag. Cotton itself is a fairly ecofriendly material, being able to be renewed. However, the polymer is surely made of chemicals that are not so friendly. It does have a good environmental impact if you look at its applications. It can be used to harvest water from the air, fog, and rain using no electricity and it can be used multiple times.

Price and availability:

            It is not widely available as of yet, since it just hit the news within the last month. However, it surely will be inexpensive when it hits the market since it is being considered for use in third world applications.  Its constituent materials are also low cost which makes the product price drop. There is still research being done on how much the cotton can hold and at what temperature it drains.

Sources:

- http://www.newmaterials.com/News_Detail_Cotton_treated_with_hydrophilic_polymer_absorbs_moisture_in_great_quanitities_12884.asp#axzz2J16E3ayo

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2013/01/22/cotton.with.special.coating.collects.water.fogs.desert

- http://www.tue.nl/en/university/news-and-press/news/cotton-with-special-coating-collects-water-from-fogs-in-desert/

- http://www.robaid.com/bionics/polymer-coated-cotton-can-harvest-water-from-desert-air.htm

- http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112767506/cotton-absorbs-340-percent-weightr-012113/

- http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/specially-coated-cotton-could-help-irrigate-deserts/