New materials innovations marry safety and style
It is entirely inevitable that a global pandemic should impact on the world of materials and decorative surfaces, just as it’s influencing every other aspect of our lives. It is also inevitable that regular deep cleans will see surfaces put through their paces and so interior products with robust, inherently hygienic properties will be much in demand. The impacts of this situation are going to be felt for a long time.
Healthy, hygienic and robust
So when it comes to surfaces, one of the most well used but perhaps least recognised materials is KYDEX plastics. This robust thermoplastic laminate is widely used in aerospace applications to make interior components such as seat backs, bulkheads, window blinds and tray tables. And swathes of it can be found in hospital applications – the lower half of most hospital walls, doors, furniture and over-bed tray tables are all made of or coated in KYDEX.
This is largely for two reasons. The first is that it is damage resistant. Tough stains, scuffs and even graffiti can be removed from KYDEX surfaces using strong cleansers with no staining, fading or surface damage. It also contains Microban anti-microbial protection, which halts the growth of microbes and reduces the spread of infection. As a homogeneous product, any damage to the top layer does not adversely affect its anti-microbial properties.
This tough, resilient thermoplastic can be colour matched, and produced in a range of textures and finishes including very realistic metallic or wood grains. It is also Class B fire-rated and highly malleable, making the possibilities endless. In commercial interiors; for example, many designers use it to incorporate logos and branding, and exploit its ease for achieving a variety of moulded shapes and finishes including contoured edges and seamless compound corners.
Style with function
If you’re feeling bold and need a surface that is highly customisable and available in a range of striking colours and finishes, but still with hygienic benefits, then Aristech Surfaces’ Avonite and STUDIO Collection brands are ideal.
Both products are stain-resistant, hygienic and easy to clean and have a multitude of architectural and design applications. Avonite has 65 different looks in a range of decorative colours, all able to be moulded together to create seamless joints for a continuous flow throughout for an eye-catching design. The STUDIO Collection provides a translucent option with 29 designs across nine colour groups. Most of these groups can be backlit with dramatic effect and are; therefore, perfectly suited for prestigious and high-impact applications; for example, reception desks and sales counters within retail or hospitality environments.
These are durable and hygienic materials for prestigious, high-end applications.
Eye-catching finishes
If a beautiful linen look or perhaps a natural wood grain is in order, then a stylish Italian laminate certainly has the edge. XyloCleaf provides a delicate look backed up with strong hygiene features.
Unlike anything else on the UK market, XyloCleaf is a highly original and exclusive range of decors which are created using a unique process of thermal fusing in which decorative papers are treated with melamine resins, that under heat and pressure become part of the panel itself.
Scratch and chemical resistance make it ideal for high-traffic areas as it can be cleaned with no deterioration of the surface quality. It is tough enough to be used in aerospace applications, healthcare, retail, education and hospitality.
Multiple shades and finishes can also be achieved by using another aesthetically strong but robust product, Abet Laminati.
At its toughest Laminati Labgrade Plus is resistant to strong chemicals, has a non-toxic surface and is chemically inert. Basically, it can be used in a lab and has all the qualities needed to survive the toughest environments.
If the environment isn’t quite that extreme, then a decorative version is available. Although pleasant on the eye, it is still highly durable, scratch-resistant and shock-resistant. Its wide range of applications include hospitals, leisure commercial and retail.
Post COVID-19 return to work
Many businesses are now trying to return to work and find out what the new normal is post-pandemic. Each sector will have its own unique requirements. Think of all the touchpoints in a retail environment. Or leisure uses such as gyms that accommodate high volumes of people and will need easy-clean surfaces in place. Creating a safe, clean and hygienic environment is a multi-sector issue, which designers will have to address.
Now is the time to look at the materials that can help create that environment by providing robust surfaces which can withstand the new demands placed upon them. Being functional doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish, as these products show. All human contact points need to be thought about in a different way now and exploring materials and their properties will make this job a lot easier for designers of the future.