This document discusses innovative materials and processes for furniture design and production. It covers several topics: 1. Nanotechnology and how depositing thin layers of atoms and structures at the nanoscale can functionalize surfaces to provide properties like self-cleaning, odor absorption, and antimicrobial effects. 2. Alternative wood finishing techniques like natural waxes and oils that allow a more direct interaction with raw wood without polymer coatings. 3. Composite materials for furniture frames like plywood, fiberglass, and advanced composites using carbon fiber that offer high strength and stiffness with opportunities for innovative design. 4. A brainstorming section examines strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for applying these new materials in a local cluster

1. TRAINING PACKAGE 3
- Image, Branding and Cultural Heritage
Module 2: Innovative materials and processes
Giuseppe Gori
Solitario Nesti
"DE-SME - Intelligent Furniture - Training for Design,
Environment and New Materials in SMEs"
Agreement n. 2009 - 2196 / 001 – 001
www.IntelligentFurniture.eu
© 2012, not for publication, only for use in direct relation
to the project

2. Intelligent Furniture
Project
Image, Branding and Cultural Heritage
Module 2 Innovative materials and processes
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3. Introduction
For a long time Furniture has been a very traditional sector as for
material choices: wood have been almost the unique material for
centuries, apart form some glass, iron hardware and fabric
complements.
Starting from 1950’s plastic materials have progressively come into
use:
high density laminates, initially for wood imitation or liquid
resistance improvement
transparent plastics (e.g. PMMA) for glass replacement (with safety
improvement)
coloured plastics to give a “happier” style, e.g. for kids’ room
furniture
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4. Introduction
In upholstered furniture, fabrics and leather coverings have shared
the market, with some “mix” solution of coated fibres to imitate
leather but granting lower costs and easier maintenance.
Upholstery have progressively found great improvement form the
development of high performance Polyurethane foams, with easier
and more efficient production of long-lasting furniture (apart from
environmental aspects…) is compared to more traditional fillings
(normally of vegetable origin).
Frames have more and more often shifted from wood to wood-
derived materials in the hidden or painted parts (essentially for cost
reduction), with some exceptions of metal and plastic components for
style choice.
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5. Material evolutions and relevant opportunities
Last years (especially since middle of 1990’s) have been very prolific
for material science also at industrial level, following huge
investments for defence and aerospace since 1945 to 1990), and
materials with very special features, just unbelievable some decades
ago, are now available to consumer industries (including furniture) at
affordable prices.
The evolution have not stopped; on the contrary, the gradual opening
of wider markets is continuously stimulating the development of
products and materials addressed to “common” industry (i.e. not
defence, not space, not Formula 1!).
The purpose of this Training Package is to discuss the various
solicitations coming from this innovation effort in order to evaluate
their potential in re-invent products, brands and marketing
approaches, still in line with the cultural heritage every company and
every cluster represents.
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6. Nanotech and functional
improvement
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7. Nanotechnology: knowledge background
The technology of nano-substances or
nanocomposites or nanostructures
preparation and use is very complex, but
the main concept of their use is quite
simple: by depositing a thin structured
layer (the order of magnitude is some
nanometres, i.e. some millionths of a
millimetre) of atoms with specific
geometries and patterns onto a surface,
it is possible to "functionalize" the
surface itself, i.e. to modify the intrinsic
behaviour in order to obtain particular
features and/or to avoid specific defects.
≈25 nm
1 nanometre = 1 nm = 10-9 m = 1 billionth of a metre
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8. Nanotechnology: knowledge background
The technology of nano-substances preparation and use is very
complex, but the main concept of their use is quite simple: by
depositing a thin structured layer (the order of magnitude is some
nanometres, i.e. some millionths of a millimetre) of atoms with
specific geometries and patterns onto a surface, it is possible to
"functionalize" the surface itself, i.e. to modify the intrinsic behaviour
in order to obtain particular features and/or to avoid specific defects.
The functions depend on:
chemical structure deposited: atoms, geometry, chemical activity
base substance
treating process
The treatment can be very selective in some cases, thus obtainig
very specific functions.
Let’s see some examples, among the infinity we can think of…...
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9. Nanotech effects: examples….
”
“L otus
t
effec
• Repellence to water and water-based liquids (coffee, alcoholic drinks, etc.)
• Repellence to oils and dirt (= easier maintenance)
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10. Nanotech effects: examples….
• Capacity to trap and adsorb unpleasant
odours (e.g. smoke, animals)
The deposited nano-structured layer incorporates a
fine pattern of cavities, where volatile molecules are
captured and neutralized, preventing unpleasant
effects.
After a certain time, the treatment can be renewed
(by “emptying” the trapping cavities), normally
through a domestic operation (e.g. washing
machine)
• By a similar mechanism it is also possible to gradually
release a volatile substance (perfume, balsam) which has
been charged in the cavities
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11. Nanotech effects: examples….
• Antimicrobial and antifungal
effects can be obtained, either by
modifying the surface to make it
inhospitable for bacteria and fungi,
or to gradually release antimicrobial
substances previously incorporated
in specially structured nano-cells.
• Anti-insect and anti-parasite
effects can be achieved with the
same chemo-physical mechanism,
e.g. against mosquitoes or dust
mites (Dermatophagoides)
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12. Nanotech application to our cluster
Brainstorming….
Open items:
competence of designers and technicians (production, testing)
competence of marketing and sales people (how to transfer value to customers)
new selection of suppliers (including their involvement in product development)
necessary risks and investments
group or cluster strategies to contain risks
qualification and approval of materials and products
instruction to users
…
…
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13. Paint-free wood finishing
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14. Do we really
touch and see wood ???
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15. Do we really
touch and see
Paint - Lacquer
wood ???
Wood
… or do we get in relation with polyurethane, polyester, acrylic, ….. ?
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16. 14th century furniture: no polymer coatings, .... just beeswax!
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17. Can we recover a more direct relation with wood?
Protective
impregnated
wood layer
Paint - Lacquer
Wood Wood
How?
• Waxes, Natural oils, Natural (or at least non toxic) products
• Impregnating instead of covering
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18. Natural or eco-compatible products
are now available in very effective
formulations…
… shall we try?
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19. Brainstorming….
Results Importance Advant. Disadvant. Appeal
(1 to 5) (+1 to +5) (-1 to -5)
• Direct wood touch
• More natural and healthy solutions
• No plastering allowed
• Longer finishing times
• Change in product look and touch
• “Back to the future” effect
• Need of periodic maintenance by users
• New experience in design
• New technical competence needed
• New suppliers needed
•…
•…
•…
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20. Composite materials
for furniture frames
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21. Introduction
Beginning from 1950’s, also some “composite” (even if still rather
traditional) materials have more and more widely come into use; in
evidence we can cite:
- plywood: this wood layers cross-superimposed and glued to form
a uniform-thickness panel with more uniform bending behaviour if
compared with wood, with the benefit of easy modelling into
cylindrical or conical shapes
From: www.danish-furniture.com From: www.momoy.com
- plymetal: a variation of plywood where one or both the external layers
(skins) are made of metal, typically stainless steel or light alloy
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22. Introduction
-fibreglass, or GFRP (Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer): in a
matrix of polymeric material glass fibres are “sunk” in order to
increase stiffness and resistance. Common matrices are
thermosetting resins, eg. epoxy). The process is normally performed
in a “shell”, which gives the shape to the object. Threaded metallic
inserts can be placed in the GFRP to facilitate assembly with other
parts.
http://www.eitrade.com
From: http://www.vam.ac.uk
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23. Advanced composites
New, more advanced composite materials are arriving from
high-tech sectors (defence, aerospace), like Carbon Fiber, or
Kevlar, offering new features:
HIGH-TECH ASPECT which
HIGH STIFFNESS
is ITSELF INNOVATIVE
HIGH DESIGN
RESISTANCE
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24. Design Process change
Traditional Materials: Composite Materials:
- from raw material to - material and product are
finished product contemporary
- machining process - product and process are
designed together
From: www.shoponline2011.com
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25. Brainstorming…
From: www.shoponline2011.com
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26. Brainstorming…
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27. Brainstorming…
From: www.shoponline2011.com
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28. Brainstorming…
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29. Brainstorming…
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30. Brainstorming…
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31. SWOT Analysis
Strenghts Opportunities
Weaknesses Threats / Risks
SWOT Analysis shall be carried out with specific focus onto LOCAL situation (companies, cluster, infrastructures, etc.)
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32. SWOT Analysis
HIGH
Market appeal
LOW HIGH
Innovation
SWOT Analysis shall be carried out with specific focus onto LOCAL situation (companies, cluster, infrastructures, etc.)
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33. SWOT Analysis
HIGH
Producibility (feasibility)
LOW HIGH
Efficiency (costs)
SWOT Analysis shall be carried out with specific focus onto LOCAL situation (companies, cluster, infrastructures, etc.)
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34. This project has been funded with support from the European
Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the
author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for
any use which may be made of the information contained
therein.
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