Dear ###USER_name###,
Welcome to the third Material Explorer newsletter. This issue includes details of the latest additions to the Material Explorer database and an article about patina. Furthermore, we recently launched our new WebShop! The spotlight is turned on another new material and the ‘check this out!’ column contains some amazing information about LEDs. At the end we give the latest dates and locations for our Material Skills exhibition.
For inspiration, information and amusement, read on …
Els Zijlstra
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Materia WebShop
The many requests for our latest book ‘Material Skills, evolution of materials’ have led us to open our own Materia WebShop. where you can order online and pay by credit card. All orders are processed automatically and shipped by our distributor. If you have not yet ordered your own copy of "Material Skills, evolution of materials", go to our WebShop and order now!
http://www.materialexplorer.com/shop
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Latest additions
The Material Explorer has been updated with new materials. We will be publishing new additions every week. You can see them here. Below a small selection of the latest additions:
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 Sensacell | |  Fraaie Dingen | |  Metallismo | |  Platinox | |  B.I.C. Carpets |
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 Hydrotect | |  Bendywood | |  Wienerberger | |  Tiburon Shagreen | |  Potter & Soar |
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Growing Old Beautifully
The famous antiquarian Israel Sack, who lived in New York in the first half of the 20th century, gave a metaphorical definition of patina. On the birthday of one of his oldest staff members he told her: " Today you are a beautiful 60-year-old. The woman you are today is of course different from the woman you were when you were 20. The difference is patina".
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In the spotlight!
Every month we select a material for its interesting sensory or technical properties, or simply because we like it. This month's material is 3-Form® Varia™, produced by 3-Form® in cooperation with Pyrasied Xtreme Acrylic. The 3-Form® Varia collection is manufactured using a patented process in which fabrics, papers, woods, pebbles, natural products, glass and printed photographic images are encapsulated in EcoResin™ PETG thermoplastic resin.
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 Bear Grass | |  Sonoma | |  Rose petals |
Click here to see the full material details.
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Check this out!
This column contains information about remarkable material use and history. This month we focus on LED technology, so let yourself be LED!
The phenomenon of electroluminescence – an emission of light produced by the application of a voltage to a solid - was discovered by H.J. Round as far back as 1907. Round applied an electric current to a crystal of silicon carbide (SiC), intended to be used for the detection of radio waves. The result was known as ‘cold’ light, because no heat could be detected in the light emitted. Because the researchers were only interested in the detection of radio waves, the discovery was not seen as very interesting!
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The phenomenon was only rediscovered in 1921, by O.V. Lossew, who thought he might be able to combine the light with a series of mirrors to send messages. In 1935 G. Destriau discovered an effect similar to that produced with SiC using zinc sulphide (ZnS), but not until 1951, with the discovery and development of transistor technology, were scientists able to explain what produced the Lossew effect. A good deal of research into the Destriau effect was carried out between 1951 and 1962. Companies like General Electric and Texas Instruments hoped to be able to use the effect to create flat screen displays. Though these attempts were not successful, a breakthrough was achieved with the discovery of III-V semiconductors in 1962, leading to the mass-production of light emitting crystals based on gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium phosphide (GaP). LEDs became more and more efficient and were used in many different applications.
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One very recent application of LEDs is to be found in the Sensacell tile. The tile contains an array of LEDs and modular sensors that can detect objects closer than 6" through materials such as glass, plastics, wood and tile. When an object is detected, a LED is activated. The system’s network can also interface with a computer which can then control any module in the system, allowing moving images to be created.
Moving images can also be produced using illuminated roof tiles designed by Lambert Kamps. The idea is based on the words often 'written' on roofs using coloured roof tiles.Translucent polyester roof tiles are illuminated with LEDs and each tile can acts as a pixel and be controlled by a PC.
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If roof tiles are a bit too static, why not try wearing LEDs? Luminex uses light-emitting diodes to illuminate optical fibres, which in turn distribute light over the surface of a fabric. Luminex can be used in the production of clothes, umbrellas, seat covers and much else besides.
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References:
- Luminex
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Locations Material Skills exhibition
To see the latest innovative and inspiring materials in the flesh, visit our international travelling Material Skills exhibition. The current programme is given below. The programme is constantly being updated, so check our website regularly to see when Material Skills is coming to a location near you.
BIS-fair Designweek Kortrijk Batimat 2005
Gent, Belgium Kortrijk, Belgium Paris, France
8 - 16 October 2005 October 2005 7 - 12 November 2005
Frankfurt, Germany Stockholm, Sweden
10 - 11 November 24 - 27 January 2006
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A final word...
As you know, Materia is constantly on the lookout for materials with special sensorial or technical properties, or used in a special way. If you have suggestions or tips for new materials or materials uses, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@materia.nl. We will happily credit you by publishing your name on our website.
We hope to hear from you soon!
