Tea, Coffee, or Orange Juice? A Brief Journey into the Depths of Material
- Efrat Barak
- Oct 28, 2022
- 4 min read
Have you ever wondered how much power lies within materials? Those that surround us in our daily lives, define our experiences, and influence our choices? Perhaps you haven't stopped to think about it, but materials shape our world in profound and fascinating ways. Let's embark on a brief journey following a seemingly simple question: What is the meaning of material, and how do small choices within it affect us on a grand scale?
Aviation and vehicles, furniture and fashion, packaging and of course – our homes, the spaces, and structures we live and work in. Everywhere, in every field, materials exist. For industrialists, they are a work tool – a platform for performance and an essential component for problem-solving. But materials are much more than that. They are a silent language, conveying emotions and messages, defining the nature of the product or space we are in. Sometimes, the material is even the product itself.
From minerals buried in the earth, through ancient traditional techniques, to groundbreaking developments at the forefront of technology, the world of materials is vast and fascinating. It is a bridge connecting engineering to biology, industry to innovation, and design to technology. Material innovation is a broad and rich field of knowledge, serving as a powerful tool for developing and improving capabilities.
To understand the idea of the versatility and meaning of materials, let's imagine a drinking glass for a moment. A simple, everyday glass. What material is it made of? What is its size, color, texture, and transparency? What beverage is it suitable for? For most of us, the glass that comes to mind is associated with a personal memory or experience. Perhaps the morning coffee cup, or the warm tea glass from a winter evening? Although it is an everyday and routine object, there is no "standard" glass.
There are countless types of glasses, varying in shape, size, color, transparency, and especially – material. Each combination creates a unique glass, suitable for a different use, event, or personal taste.
As in other cases, the question of material selection can also be examined from a historical perspective. In this context, ceramics were probably the first material used to create personal drinking vessels. Over the years, with the development of human capabilities, metal and glass were added. There were also periods when wood was a common material for creating tools, but for understandable reasons, it was almost completely abandoned over the years. With the invention of plastic (polymers) in its various forms, it became an especially popular material for producing a wide range of products, including, of course, drinking glasses.
The historical perspective sheds light on the values of the various materials and contributes to their understanding and use today, but it still does not provide a complete picture from the perspective of material innovation.
Another significant point of reference is the purpose and suitability of the material's properties for use. These parameters are critical and very useful when performing the material selection process. Ceramics, for example, are an insulating material and therefore suitable for maintaining the temperature of hot drinks, especially when it's cold outside. Glass excels in hygiene and does not insulate temperature well, so it is suitable for other types of beverages and for warmer climate areas. Unlike ceramics and glass, the various types of plastic offer good resistance to breakage, efficiency, and high suitability for large-scale production, relatively low costs, and a vast color-texture range. In terms of durability, metal surpasses all materials and offers almost infinite durability suitable for use in extreme conditions, so it will be suitable, for example, for field use. It is indeed limited in terms of thermal insulation, but it can be produced with a double wall similar to a thermos. Additionally, metal can offer very high aesthetic values that can tip the scales in favor of ceremonial or luxury uses.
The entire range of properties, questions, and material considerations mentioned here can and should be included in any material selection process in product, tool, structure, or space development and manufacturing. This is the essence of material innovation, the understanding that the material is also a key player in the success of the final product and that the informed use of materials can create a significant change. For this purpose, material selection must be a critical and not automatic process.
But Material Selection is not just a matter of aesthetics and functionality. It is a decision with far-reaching economic, environmental, and marketing implications. For example, cheap and readily available material may reduce production costs but limit product quality and customer satisfaction. Conversely, an innovative and high-end material can increase the product's cost but position it as a leader in its field and increase market share.
Moreover, material choices have a direct impact on the product's carbon footprint and the nature of the waste that will remain from it at the end of use. Very durable or, alternatively, easily degradable materials can reduce environmental damage, while other materials may pose a danger to the environment and the public. Therefore, in addition to the aesthetic and functional considerations of the material, it is important to take into account its behavior throughout the product's life cycle – from the production stage, through use, to the end of its life.
Informed material selection is critical to the success of any product, tool, structure, or space. It reflects the understanding that materials are an integral part of the user experience and that the right choice can make a significant difference.
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