Category Archives: Students

Eco-Friendly Material – ETFE

By seiichi.suzuki | Published: December 23, 2011

source: grimshaw architects, eden project, England

ETFE foil is fast becoming one of the most exciting materials in today´s design industry and has set the construction world alight with the potential it offers. Originally invented by DuPont as an insulation material for the aeronautics industry, ETFE was not initially considered as a mainstream building material. Its principal use was as an upgrade for the polythene sheet commonly used for greenhouse polytunnels. The advantages of its extraordinary tear resistance, long life, and transparency to ultraviolet light offset the higher initial costs, and over 20 years later, it is still working well. 

The Eden Project in the UK and the Beijing Olympic Aquatics Centre has brought the material into public discussion. ETFE is increasingly being specified on a wide range of new projects, from schools and offices, to government buildings and sports facilities. ETFE is under the spotlight and intends to shine.

ETFE foil is essentially a plastic polymer related to Teflon and is created by taking the polymer resin and extruding it into a thin film. It is largely used as a replacement for glazing, due to its high light transmission properties. Transparent windows are created either by inflating to or more layers of foil to form cushions or tensioning into a single-skin membrane. 

Weighing approximately 1% the weight of glass, simple-ply ETFE membranes and ETFE cushions are both extremely light-weight. This enables a reduction of structural framework and imposes significantly less dead load on the supporting structure.

Another major benefit of ETFE is its high translucency. Transmitting up to 95% of light, it is easy to see why it was chosen to construct Eden Project. When high levels of light and UV transmission are not required, ETFE also has the ability to be printed or fritted with a range of patterns. This fritting can be used to reduce solar gain while retaining transparency or it can incorporate a white body tint to render the foil translucent. ETFE cushions can be lit internally with LED lightning to make them glow or may be projected onto externally like a giant cinema screen, creating dramatic results.

Unaffected by UV light, atmospheric pollution and other forms of environmental weathering, ETFE foil is an extremely durable material. While no ETFE structure has been in place for longer than 25 years, extensive laboratory and field research have suggested that the material has a lifespan in excess of 40 years.

The benefits of this material are extensive and have yet to be put to use in many areas.

  

Bibliography:

WILSON Amy, 2009, ETFE: The new Fabric Roof  

Also posted in IC.2 Energy, SEIICHI EDUARDO SUZUKI ERAZO | Comments closed

Eco-Friendly Materials

By ahmed.derhalli | Published: December 23, 2011

Cork:

Cork is a natural, organic, sustainable product that is soft to the touch, feather light yet durable, fire resistant and waterproof. It is used for a variety of products such as flooring, architectural cladding panels and designers are now creating eco-friendly cork handbags and other cork fashion and home accessories that are stylish as well as functional it’s becoming the new alternative for eco-friendly fashion and decorating. On the other hand cork can be a padding material for other architectural material like flooring tiles or elevation panels and can be the thermal and water insulation material.

Harvesting Cork oak is one of the best examples of a sustainable agro-forestry system where people use the natural resources, without disturbing or destroying nature. Cork oak trees are unique in their ability to regenerate after their bark has been harvested. This means that cork forests undergo fewer disturbances than conventional commercial forests, creating a unique and valuable eco-system. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification is considered the best way to protect this environment for the long-term benefit of communities living and working in these regions, as well as the indigenous wildlife. The attached link is an interesting clip for cork harvesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cpIfVT7BA6g

ETFE:

Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, ETFE, a fluorine based plastic was designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range. It can be used for insulation, as well as temperature and light regulation. ETFE is a growing trend in architecture these days because it enables new design options.

ETFE foil is a perfect covering for a greenhouse because it is strong, transparent and lightweight. A piece of ETFE weighs less than 1 percent of a piece of glass with the same volume. It is also a better insulator than glass, and it is much more resistant to the weathering effects of sunlight. The material is self cleaning because of its chemical composition (very similar to teflon). In most architectural applications the material is used in ETFE Pillows. This configuration is a composite of two layers of ETFE that are pressurized to form a more rigid unit. Typically, aluminum strips are sandwiched along the edges to seal the pillows with just a small pressurization hose penetration left open. The  amount of light that passes through membranes can be regulated, because membrane cushions with an inner coating of tungsten trioxide turn blue when they come into contact with hydrogen and lose their color if the cushions are filled with oxygen You could use a foil such as this to cover the entire facade of a house and have light pass depending upon sunlight conditions.

Also posted in Ahmad Derhalli, IC.2 Energy | 1 Comment

IC2 Empuries Energy

By Alejandro Nunez | Published: December 22, 2011

EMPURIES SELF-SUFFICIENCY

We have selected, based on the developed analysis some strategies to achieve a level of self-sufficiency in terms of energy in the hostal.

We start the energy production research from the fact that there are some important energy sources to consider in the site, taking advantage of the obvious position of the hotel in front of the sea.

There exist a series of considerations to take in mind before choosing any ocean, sun or wind energy production method, such as the possible impacts on the shape and aesthetics of the beach, very important because the main attractor of the hostel is its beautiful environment, and its alteration might bring with it a serious economic impact, so any method that permanently alters its context should be avoided.

The development of the research can be found in the research document by clicking here.

Also posted in Alejandro Nuñez López, Angel Fernando Lara Moreira, Gabriel Bello Diaz, IC.2 Energy, Maria Elena Amescua Dacasa, Noor Alain Ahmed, Oscar Gomez de la Vega, Pavel Aguilar Urquidez, Shruthi Basappa | Comments closed

IC2 Materials Assignment

By Alejandro Nunez | Published: December 22, 2011
SELF-HEALING ASPHALT

Self-healing is receiving an increasing amount of worldwide interest as a method to autonomously address damage in materials. This asphalt is basically a special type of ZOAB (very porous asphalt concrete) containing small steel wool fibers. A known but serious problem with ZOAB is raveling: stones at the surface coming off in time due to micro cracks in the binder.

The special ZOAB that is developed at Delft University can be heated with induction energy due to the fibers that are present, could close the micro cracks and with that, extends the service life of the road.

In the new asphalt that is developed in this project small steel wool fibers are mixed in the bitumen. After some time (probably a few years or after a strong winter like we have now) when small micro cracks occur in the bitumen and when the aggregates in the asphalt mix at the surface start to debond, the steel wool fibers are heated with induction energy. By heating up the fibers the bitumen will melt and close the cracks and repair the bond with the aggregates. It is important not to apply too much heating, because that would close all the pores in the porous asphalt.

SOURCE: www.selfhealingasphalt.blogspot.com

NATURAL INSULATION

HOMATHERM flexCL 040 is a very practical insulation material in flexible batt form, made from recycled newspaper and recycled jute sacking. The material is treated with borax to resist insects and to make the insulation fire-resistant. The material is very comfortable to work with, and can be readily cut to fit where necessary. Installation is safe and easy, protecting the health of both installers and building occupants.

Homatherm improves the climate in the building because of its thermal and vapor diffusion capacity – the ability both to regulate temperature and to absorb moisture and gently give it off again. It protects the structure and keeps it dry, prolonging the lifetime of the building fabric.

Homatherm can be used between rafters, joists and timber studs in breathing constructions. It can also be installed as a partial fill insulation for cavity wall construction with a ventilated air gap.

SOURCE: www.constructionresources.com

See the full document research here.

Also posted in Alejandro Nuñez López, IC.2 Energy | Comments closed

Ecofriendly & Innovative Materials // Accoya

By deniz.dumerdem | Published: December 22, 2011

Created from sustainably sourced softwood, Accoya wood matches or exceeds the durability, stability and beauty of the very best tropical hardwoods.The Accoya wood production process takes sustainably-sourced, fast growing softwood and, in a non toxic process that ‘enables nature’, creates a new durable, stable and beautiful product – that has the very best environmental credentials.

Dimensional stability
Swelling and shrinkage reduced by 75% or more// Doors and windows open effortlessly year round//Paints and varnishes last 3 or 4 times longer, greatly reducing maintenance costs
Class 1 durability
The most durable wood possible// More durable than teak and the world’s other most durable woods//Perfect for outdoor use
Long lasting
Lasting at least 50 years above ground and 25 years in ground
Rot& insect barrier
Accoya wood is indigestible to insects and microorganisms and is therefore more resistant to decay// Barrier to wood-destroying fungi
// Accoya wood is virtually rot-proof
Perfect for Coating
Easier to coat: less preparation and sanding between coatings required//Improved dimensional stability and UV resistance improves the life of coatings//Perfect for transparent, translucent and opaque coatings
Naturally Insulating
Accoya wood offers improved thermal insulation in comparison with commonly used wood species//Accoya wood is ideal for applications where energy conservation is important
Non- Toxic
Accoya wood is non-toxic, protecting the environment from the harmful effects of poisons leaching out of typical wood treatment//Accoya wood may be safely reused and recycled
From sustainable sources
Sustainably sourced, including from FSC, PEFC and other regionally certified woods//Naturally renewable
100% recyclable
Fully reusable and recyclable // Reuse is recommended but Accoya wood may be
safely incinerated for bio-energy or composted

The technology behind Accoya® wood is based on acetylation. The physical properties of any material are determined by its chemical structure. Wood contains an abundance of chemical groups called “free hydroxyls” (represented as OH in the picture). Free hydroxyl groups adsorb and release water according to changes in the climatic conditions to which the wood is exposed. This is the main reason why wood swells and shrinks. It is also believed that the digestion of wood by enzymes initiates at the free hydroxyl sites – which is one of the principal reasons why wood is prone to decay. Acetylation effectively changes the free hydroxyls within the wood into acetyl groups. This is done by reacting the wood with acetic anhydride, which comes from acetic acid (known as vinegar when in its dilute form). When the free hydroxyl group is transformed to an acetyl group, the ability of the wood to absorb water is greatly reduced, rendering the wood more dimensionally stable and, because it is no longer digestible, extremely durable.

http://www.accoya.com/

Also posted in Deniz Tumerdem, IC.2 Energy | Comments closed