Le Klint 101, also known as the fruit lamp, by Kaare Klint, 1944. It was recreated as an XL version in 2007. The lamp has a brushed steel suspension and pleated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foil shade.
Dichroic film produces a myriad of reflected colours depending on the viewing angle. It is constructed from multiple layers of incredibly thin, vacuum deposition coating. This example is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film with a black underside.
Nelson Bubble Lamp, by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1952, formed by spraying a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) mixed with a webbing agent (which causes the PVC to form filaments) onto a steel wire frame, and finished with a layer of pure PVC spray coating
Number 4 department store bag, designed by Baluba, manufactured by Progress Packaging. Screen printed Tyvek outer and metallised polyvinyl chloride (PVC) lining. Image courtesy of Progress Packaging.
Cross section through an automotive instrument panel (dashboard) featuring BASF Elastoflex polyurethane resin (PUR) foam. This is a safety critical part of the design, as well as important visual and tactile aspect, sitting in front of the driver. In must be able to tolerate some demanding conditions - temperature extremes, direct sunlight and heat through the windshield - while maintaining its appearance for the life of the vehicle. They are made with various material technologies, such as with unpainted polypropylene (PP), or as is the case with higher spec vehicles like this example, using PUR foam between an injection moulded structural carrier and tactile surface foil. The foam bonds the carrier, which is typically PP or polycarbonate blended with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS), to the surface foil to create a smooth profile with soft touch feel. Surface foils include thermoplastic olefin (TPO), and slush moulded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Image BASF.
Westlake Girls High School on Auckland, New Zealand’s North Shore, designed by architects Creative Spaces. To achieve the architects' vision of mixed natural light and shade, Structureflex produced an innovate tensile membrane that combines coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester, fabric with transparent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) film. Image Structurflex.
Westlake Girls High School on Auckland, New Zealand’s North Shore, designed by architects Creative Spaces. To achieve the architects' vision of mixed natural light and shade, Structureflex produced an innovate tensile membrane that combines coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester, fabric with transparent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) film. Image Structurflex.
Door sliding system profile in extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) selectively reinforced with unidirectional glass fibre for enhanced stiffness, made by Rossi Stampi
This Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandoulière 55 is made with canvas and cowhide trim. The canvas is cotton coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is printed and embossed to look like leather. The plastic coating provides an extremely durable and long lasting finish, and is much less expensive than leather. The leather trim is left untreated. Known as vachetta leather, it is vegetable tanned and retains the natural colour of the skin. Over time, it has developed a rich patina.
Nelson Bubble Lamp, by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1952, formed by spraying a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) mixed with a webbing agent (which causes the PVC to form filaments) onto a steel wire frame, and finished with a layer of pure PVC spray coating
Spot Material is a database of materials for sustainable design, curated by Rob Thompson. Compare properties, carbon and end of life, find better alternatives and discover new material innovations. Browse all materials