MATERIALS LAB EVENTS
LATEST NEWS
The Materials Lab is a resource dedicated to in-depth material investigation in design. Our circulating, ever-expanding library of material product samples and assemblies was founded in 2001. By supporting advanced and interdisciplinary material research, development, and fabrication, the Materials Lab provides the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to design and construct a better built environment.
In addition to our material library, the Materials Lab houses a rotating exhibition space, an extensive collection of circulating books, a “free samples” section of surplus materials, and individual and group workspaces. The Materials Lab also organizes a diverse range of programming including hands-on workshops, lectures, and other events.
STAFF
LOOKING FOR MATERIALS?
Browse the online database or visit our collection of 29,000+ samples in person. Material samples can be loaned for hands-on inspiration and presentations. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to check out material samples with a UT EID.
TOUR THE MATERIALS LAB
Location + Contact
West Mall Office Building (WMB) 3.102
The University of Texas at Austin
(512) 232-5969
materialslab@austin.utexas.edu
OPERATING HOURS
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fall and Spring semesters
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Click the images below for more information.
COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS
The material library is ever-growing and our material researchers are always on the lookout for new materials. If you come across a product that you think we should add, email us!
FOLLOW US
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@materials_labHere today, gone….in 1226 tomorrows. Can you guess which of these two foams is biodegradable? Compared with conventional polyurethane foam, which breaks down over hundreds of years, here’s a version that biodegrades 99.2% in less than 3.5 years (the green one!).
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@materials_labHere’s a net positive: durable tiles made of recycled fishing nets and ropes. Maritime gear makes up at least 10% of plastic waste found in oceans, added at a whopping rate of 1.5 tons per minute.
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@materials_labHow do you transform glass into the “gold-standard” of insulation boards? Fill it with bubbles. Cellular glass (like regular float glass) is made from sand, limestone and soda ash. These simple ingredients are melted, cooled and crushed into powder with just a bit of carbon black.
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@materials_labJoin us next Monday, 2/19, for a lunchtime talk with Dr. Sara Codarin, a roboticist and educator whose research spans large-scale additive manufacturing, robotic fabrication, digital craft, storytelling, and generative AI for world-building.
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@materials_labWhat’s a circular product suitable for interior acoustics? One “sound” option is a rigid polyester panel made from recycled bottles.
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@materials_labWhat’s one of the easiest ways to improve energy efficiency in buildings? Add insulation! Introducing: wood fiber insulation from TimberHP. Available as loose fill, batts, or rigid board, wood insulation provides a renewable, carbon-storing alternative to products made from petrochemicals.
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@materials_labWe’ve covered mycelium leather here before, but now we have samples you can view in person. Developed by Ecovative’s Forager™ division, this animal-free, plastic-free material is a convincing alternative to traditional leather. Swing by to view two versions of finished AirLoom™ Hides.
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@materials_labFlexible polyurethane foam (FPF) is a material we use daily. It forms our furniture and car seating, mattresses and pillows, sports equipment and shoes. FPF is often produced in large slabs, or “buns,” that rise and set as oil-based chemicals react, foam, and cure.
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@materials_labWelcome back to a new semester at the Materials Lab! We invite you to explore our vast collection of building materials, books, 1:1 assemblies, and surplus samples (free to use as you like, in studio or at home). We are open from 9:00 to 5:00, M-F, in WMB 3.100.