Challenge of Materials

TASK:


Visit the Challenge of Materials gallery and select one material that inspires you that you have learnt something new about - make notes on its applications, properties, development.

Walking into the Science Museum I was instantly drawn to the wavy,  technicolour sandwich sculpture positioned in the centre of the gallery. On further inspection you could see that this object was made using the greatest and largest variety of materials possible. There were hundreds of curvy layers of different colours and textures in cloud like shapes.
    The artist behind the sculpture 'Materials House' is Thomas Heatherwick who designed the exhibit to show 'everything that anything can be made of' - from astroturf, plastic, metal, lace, felt, polystyrene etc. Heatherwick decided to bond together 6 metre high pieces of every material there is to construct an enormous feast for the eyes and hands. Weighing about 4 tonnes, Heatherwick sourced more than 80 suppliers and bonded together these materials to create a solid single elemented structure. Each piece protrudes out allowing the surface of every material to be seen. The pattern can be viewed from both sides creating a crazy, geometric pattern that intertwines and becomes increasingly intricate as the layers become more stacked. With 213 layers in total, each 6mm thick there are more than 2000 individual shaped parts. It is like a mammoth cross section, as if somebody has taken a knife and sliced into the most multicoloured object imaginable. I think it is a fantastic sculpture as it truly suggests that there are no boundaries with material and that the skys the limit. Heatherwick successfully resorts the viewer back back to a that of a child, playfully touching and examinining every material, exploring in and around it. He suggests the versatility of all the materials and the different properties and appearances they offer. Materials are endless and used in every part of life from the moment you wake up, brush your teeth with a plastic toothbrush, wash your face with an absorbent towelling fabric, eat off a china plate and then sleep in a cotton lined bed. 

Materials House - Thomas Heatherwick

 

213 layers

There are hundreds of different materials in the world, all with different properties; be they physical chemical, environmental, sensory, optical etc. All have different weights, thicknesses, textures and applications. These properties determine the ways in which a material can be used. Each have their own functions, be it warming, cooling, insulating, protecting, supporting, cleaning, strengthening, gripping... the possibilites are endless. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages for each material depending on the job at hand thus you would need to select the material that is most suitable for your task. When choosing a material you could think of the durability, cost, appearance, fashion, culture and product in mind. I found it interesting to think that the same object could be made out of different materials but each would alter in function, size, shape, weight, cost, colour, texture etc. 

Details of all the materials in the Material House exhibit

  

The material I have chosen to analyse is:

MARBLE

Marble is a type of metamorphic rock that is made up of calcite (a crystallised form of calcium carbonate). Metamorphism is the recrystallisation that occurs when pre-existing rocks i.e sedimentary rocks are put under constant changes in heat and pressure under strong physical and chemical conditions. It causes the recrystallisation of the original carbonate mineral grains and forms a solid interlocking mosaic type structure of crystals. The intense temperatures and pressures exerted onto the original sedimentary rock destroy all of the fossils and textures of the rock creating a much smoother and softer material. I found it interesting to find that no piece of marble is the same, each have their own imperfections and colours.

Marble can come in a variety of different colours:

• Pure white marble is the metamorphosism of very pure limestone or dolomite protolith. White marble suggests an importance and decadence which is why Greek and Roman sculptors were keen to create popular figures out of the stone. It has since become a symbolic material and has been used to sculpt traditional, royal or religious figurines. Light is also able to penetrate several millimeters into the stone because of its low refraction of calcite allowing a more waxy/shiny appearance. This quality allows marble sculptures to appear more realistic and lifelike and the slight transparent surface makes it similar to human skin. 
• Most marble however is known for its magical swirls, spirals and irregular veins of colour. These characteristic patterns are the product of a mixture of mineral impurities (clay, silt, sand, iron oxide, chert) found in the original grains or layers of limestone. They affect the mineral composition producing a streaked design thus they are not pre-empted but more a natural, uncontrollable reaction. When sliced or cut into pieces they produce beautiful, fanciful designs. There is no clear or discernible grain just the result of impurites that streak the rock.
• Green marble is a result of high levels of magnesium limestone or dolostone with silica impurites. These impurities can be moved around under intense heat and pressure before being recrystallised. 
• Marble can also be pink, black or grey or streaked with a mixture of the above. 

Uses: 

• Art and architecture - Marble is extremely decorative and when used in homes it symbolises wealth, prosperity and power. This is perhaps why famous galleries and educational institutes are made of pure white marble.
  
• Garden pavings - The natural marks in marks create a rather organic pattern perfect for paving.
• Sculpture - Marble is carved and highly polished to give its traditional smooth and pure texture.
  
• Building material - pillars/columns..
  
• Mantles/Windows/Fireplaces
  
• Flooring - Marble is often used in kitchen where floors can easily be wiped and cleaning, however it can often be cold underfoot.
  
• Counter-tops - Bakers are known to work on marble counter-tops due to the fact that the stone can stay cool and thus when dough is rolled out there is no need to worry about it sticking. Marble unlike wood resists oil, therefore it is a great surface to cook on as can easily be cleaned and wiped down.  
• Tiles - showers, floors
  
• Soap - When crushed or finely ground marble can be used as abrasives in soap
• Soil treatment products 

Properties/Advantages & Disadvantages

• Brittle/ Relative resistance to shattering
• Hard
• Compact
• Fine to very fine grained metamorphosed rocks that take well to shining polish
• Relatively durable  - It does not show signs of deterioration easily.
• Easily workable
• Smooth
• Easy to clean - you do not need to worry about it getting wet or damp as it will not erode or disintegrate.
• Less than 0.5% water absorption
• Low porosity
• Resistant to fire and erosion - Can withstand weathering
• Heat resistant - Ensures uniform temperature within the home. 
• Some marble can not be very useful due to the flaws or cracks that can occur under extreme heat and pressure. The cracks can cause the marble to break and shatter thus when sculpting you need to consider the purity of the stone and be experienced working with a wide assortment of rock types.

'David' - Michelangelo

Hugely famous Renaissance marble sculpture - Italy

Examples of Marble:

I thought the Challenge of Materials gallery was extremely interesting as it provided me with an insight into a variety of different materials, many that I had never even heard of. It was highly factual and informative with small swatches of all the materials that allowed me to visualise exactly what each looked and felt like. The exhibit was visually appealing and atractive to the senses thus suiting my tactile nature.