Design to Manufacture: Realising the creative and commercial potential of a unique aesthetic 'Eco-material'

该项目建立在以前AHRC资助的项目：“废物的美学”-对窑铸再循环矿物废物的创造性和商业潜力的调查（宾斯，2008年）。该项目的主要目的是：“通过'设计主导'的方法，进一步开发'高价值'生态材料的创造性和商业潜力，在以前的AHRC资助的奖项中开发”。最初的研究，其根源在于工艺实践，涉及开发一种将玻璃，陶瓷和矿物废料转化为功能，美学，高价值生态材料的工艺。这种创新材料为建筑师和设计师提供了一种充满独特美学的包层和表面产品，具有显着的可持续性。窑炉铸造工艺将“低价值”废物转化为“高价值”产品，由97-100%的回收废物制成，不含任何水泥或合成聚合物，用于许多现有的“绿色”复合材料产品。该工艺利用当地来源的废物，从而避免了原材料的过度运输。所有制造废物都可以重新引入到输入流中（零废物，闭环制造），并可以在生命周期结束时回收（摇篮到摇篮设计范式，生命周期结束制造）。虽然研究团队开发了一些原型样品，展示了广泛的美学品质，但现有研究设施内可用的资源限制了研究的创造性范围。该项目涉及建立一个试点制造单位，这将促进新材料的创造性开发，并促进生产规模的扩大（规模和数量）。通过提高材料的创造力和商业潜力，该项目将扩大建筑师、设计师和工艺品制造商的美学词汇，提供更广泛的设计解决方案。研究团队打算开发“设计主导”产品，针对特别关注使用创新和可持续建筑产品的建筑师和设计师。研究团队的一个优先事项是探索制造规模的增加如何通过以前无法预见的艺术产出，反过来增加创造性的可能性，包括参与公共艺术项目的可能性，以及通过利用当地来源的原材料产生地方感。该项目需要研究团队与项目合作伙伴Recycling Lives（RL）合作，总部位于英国普雷斯顿的“皇后可持续发展企业奖”获奖公司。RL是一个完美的合作伙伴，因为他们是一个主要的英国回收公司，在回收和废物管理行业拥有四十多年的经验。建议在其房地内建立试验工厂。它们将通过其公司基础设施，以实物形式提供制造、工商管理、销售和营销支持。从上述已完成的研究中出现的一个不可预见的影响途径涉及CRT含铅玻璃的回收-由于玻璃的高铅含量，目前对英国和全球回收行业都是一个重大的环境问题。全球仍有19亿块屏幕在使用，迫切需要开发新颖的、环境可接受的解决方案。研究小组已进行初步的实证研究，结果显示在新环保材料中加入阴极射线管玻璃，可安全地密封铅含量。证明新的生态材料中的铅的安全封装将是实现CRT铅玻璃商业潜力的关键一步，同时也为CRT回收问题提供了一种新的解决方案。该项目将展示创意艺术实践中的研究如何产生重大的创意，经济，社会和环境影响。

This project builds on a previous AHRC funded project: 'The Aesthetic of Waste' - an investigation of the creative & commercial potential of kiln cast re-cycled mineral waste (Binns, 2008). The primary aim of the project is: 'Through a 'design-led' approach, further exploit the creative and commercial potential of 'high value' Eco-material, developed within the previous AHRC funded award'.The original research, with its roots in craft practice, involved developing a process for converting glass, ceramic and mineral waste into a functional, aesthetic, high-value Eco-material. The innovative material offers architects and designers a cladding and surface product imbued with a unique aesthetic, possessing significant sustainable properties. The kiln casting process converts 'low value' waste into a 'high value' product, made from 97-100% recycled waste, without any cementatious or synthetic polymers, used in many existing 'green' composite products. The process utilizes locally sourced waste, thus avoiding excessive transportation of raw materials. All manufacturing waste can be re-introduced into the input stream (Zero Waste, Closed Loop Manufacturing) and can be recycled at end of life (Cradle to Cradle Design Paradigm, End of Life Manufacturing). Whilst the Research Team developed a number of prototype samples, demonstrating a wide range of aesthetic qualities, the resources available within the existing research facility limited the creative scope of the research.This project involves establishing a pilot-manufacturing unit, which would enhance creative development of the new material and facilitate increased scales of production (size and volume). Through increasing the creative and commercial potential of the material, the project will expand the aesthetic vocabulary for architects, designers and craft-makers - offering a broader range of design solutions.The research team intend developing 'design led' products, aimed at architects and designers who are particularly focused on the use of innovative and sustainable building products. A priority of the research team is to exploit how increased scales of manufacture, in turn increases the creative possibilities, through previously unforeseen artistic output, including the possibility for engagement in public art projects and engendering a sense of place through utilizing locally sourced raw materials.The project entails the Research Team working in collaboration with a project partner, Recycling Lives (RL), a 'Queens Award for Sustainable Enterprise' winning company, based in Preston, UK. RL are a perfect fit as partner as they are a major UK recycling company with over forty years experience in the recycling and waste management industry. It is proposed that the pilot plant would be established on their premises. They will provide, in kind, manufacturing, business administration, sales and marketing support, through their company infrastructure. An unforeseen pathway to impact, emerging from the above-completed research, addresses the recycling of CRT lead-bearing glass - currently presenting a major environmental problem to both the UK and global recycling industry, due to the high lead content of the glass. With 1.9 billion screens still in use globally, there is an urgent need to develop novel, environmentally acceptable solutions. The research team has undertaken preliminary empirical research, which suggests that the incorporation of CRT glass in the new Eco-material can result in the lead content being safely encapsulated. Proving the safe encapsulation of lead within the new Eco-material, would be a crucial step towards realising the commercial potential of CRT lead glass, whilst also offering a novel solution to the CRT recycling problem. The project will demonstrate how research, originating within creative art practice, can lead to the delivery of significant creative, economic, social and environmental impacts.