Kynar Aquatec® PVDF latex is making a strong contribution to achieving the high-reflectivity and aesthetic goals for the bright-white Acrymax® coating used inside the display cabinet to showcase the recently announced winner of the global 2016 Design ‘N Gather mosaic tile design competition. The winning mural, as well as the design gallery of the top ten finalists, will be on display at select locations during the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention, which is being held in Philadelphia, May 19–21, 2016.
The 2016 global Design ‘N Gather competition, sponsored by Artaic Innovative Mosaic and Bostik, Inc., is a unique contest for which top architectural designers have submitted one-of-a-kind mosaic glass-tile mural designs as a 20-foot-long by 8-foot-wide backlit feature wall. All submissions were designed using Artaic’s Tessera™ design software and produced using Artaic’s robotic manufacturing technology. As the final design element, submissions included Bostik’s Dimension™ translucent glass-filled grout, which is available in 15 designer colors and can be backlit as well. Through narrative and design, all the mosaic murals depicted the energy, life and essence of Las Vegas, NV, which was the theme for this year’s competition.
A full-scale production of the winning mural, as well as a gallery of designs from the top ten finalists, was unveiled earlier this month at the 2016 Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference in Las Vegas. To best spotlight the winning one-of-a-kind glass-tile mosaic masterpiece, the interior of the cabinet received a coat of Acrymax® PC 125, a direct-to-metal primer, followed by two coats of a bright-white Kynar Aquatec®-based Acrymax® AF-5500 topcoat. This system was designed to provide high reflectivity and color stability of the interior backlit wall.
Kynar Aquatec® emulsions have long been used in cool-roof applications for their ability to keep white coatings whiter by nature of their resistance to dirt pickup, mold and mildew resistance, and exceptional weathering. As such, coatings based on Kynar Aquatec® emulsions will have high reflectivity for very long periods of time without fading or yellowing. “Although outside of our typical use for the Kynar Aquatec®-based AF-5500 coating, these benefits made it a very desirable solution for the mosaic glass-tile mural showcase, which is both highly aesthetic and needs to maintain high reflectivity,” said Eric Bennung, Vice President, Acrymax Technologies, Inc.
To view the full-scale production of the award-winning mural design, as well as the top ten finalists, visit the Bostik Gallery Lounge (#1401) at the 2016 AIA show. The mosaic glass-tile designs will also make a special appearance at The Party, an exciting AIA 2016 event being held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Grand Ballroom on May 20. Following the AIA 2016 Convention, the winning one-of-a-kind mosaic masterpiece will head back to Las Vegas to be permanently installed as a 20-foot by 8-foot backlit wall at the MGM Grand’s popular Wet Republic poolside bar and patio area.
For more information about the excellent performance-enhancing benefits offered by Kynar Aquatec®-based coatings, visit kynaraquatec.com.
About Arkema
A designer of materials and innovative solutions, Arkema shapes materials and creates new uses that accelerate customer performance. Our balanced business portfolio spans high-performance materials, industrial specialties and coating solutions. Our globally recognized brands are ranked among the leaders in the markets we serve. Reporting annual sales of €7.7 billion in 2015, we employ approximately 19,000 people worldwide and operate in close to 50 countries. We are committed to active engagement with all our stakeholders. Our research centers in North America, France and Asia concentrate on
bio-based products, new energies, solutions for electronics, potable water management, lightweight materials and 3D design materials, building performance, and insulation. For the latest, visit www.arkema.com.
Kynar Aquatec® is a registered trademark of Arkema Inc.
Acrymax® is a registered trademark of Acrymax Technologies Inc.
Dimension™ is a trademark of Bostik, Inc.
Tessera™ is a trademark of Artaic LLC.