The large majority of composite materials suitable for furniture design rely heavily on resins, which render them un-recyclable. Twintex® however, is a “commingled glass and thermoplastic polypropylene fiber filament” which can be used like string, and then baked in an oven to harden into a solidified mass. The use of this recyclable composite is a direct reflection of the RISD Furniture Design Department’s commitment to “research, innovation and sustainability as key pedagogical areas of focus.”
“Shadow” by Lisa Jo-Fan Chang is a neo-gothic pendant lamp that explores form and negative space to create a hauntingly beautiful lighting fixture. Twintex® filament was wrapped around a welded metal structure to create its 3-tiered and 5-winged shape. After baking the lamp, the metal skeleton was removed, and it was outfitted with lighting hardware.
Polypropylene = plastic = resin
Filament is a form that the PP/resin/plastic has been processed into.
If the products are melted down as suggested you will have what’s known as glass reinforced Polypropylene a low cost composite suitable for furniture/auto parts and many other things. GFPP is a resin based composite which is very difficult to reuse, although in this case the first generation might be pretty good material due to the long glass fiber length.
Nice work with a new material by the students though.
These designs remind me so much of Hudson Furniture http://www.hudsonfurnitureinc.com/