{"id":1810,"date":"2013-05-14T06:30:26","date_gmt":"2013-05-14T13:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/compositesandarchitecture.com\/?p=1810"},"modified":"2013-05-14T10:46:55","modified_gmt":"2013-05-14T17:46:55","slug":"seen-at-sampe-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kreysler.zaab.org\/?p=1810","title":{"rendered":"Seen at SAMPE 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAMPE \u2013 the Society for the Advancement of Materials and Processing \u2013 held its convention in Long Beach, CA last week, and Composites and Architecture went to check out the trade show.\u00a0 While the majority of the show was oriented towards the aerospace industry, we saw things of definite architectural interest as well, and we are reporting this week and next week.<\/p>\n

On the aesthetic front: Carbon fiber fabric is already a pretty intriguing look.\u00a0 Imagine what would happen if someone tried to apply fabric design to it.<\/p>\n

Sister companies Fabric Development Inc. of Quakertown, PA and Textile Products, Inc of Anaheim, CA were showing a wide range of decorative weaves featuring mixed materials \u2013 carbon fiber, polyester, Kevlar \u2013 selected for their color.\u00a0 One of the fabrics \u2013 a mix of carbon and Kevlar \u2013 even exhibited a deep three-dimensional illusion when seen in person.<\/p>\n

Composite Fabrics of America, Taylorsville, NC goes a step further, weaving pure carbon fiber into complex decorative patterns.\u00a0 They can even weave a logo into the fabric.<\/p>\n

These fabrics, bonded by clear resin, could provide the finish for architectural surfaces.\u00a0 Interior wall panels spring to mind.\u00a0 A conference table made of FRP with a patterned carbon fiber fabric finish \u2013 and perhaps with a layer of Aramid fabric underneath \u2013 could be not only beautiful but bullet-proof.<\/p>\n

Since most architectural FRP elements are made of multiple layers of fabric, the decorative fabric could be confined to the exterior layer, and need not significantly affect either the engineering or the cost of the piece.<\/p>\n

images by Steven H. Miller<\/em><\/p>\n

Decorative carbon fiber by Composite Fabrics of America<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t