Design-driven integrated development of technical and perceptual qualities in foam-formed cellulose fibre materials

Design-driven process entailing iterative prototyping was used to develop foam-formed monomaterial structure made of renewable and recyclable biomaterials suitable e.g. for sound insulation in interior spaces. Interactions between wood-pulp fibres, the perforated mould and the forming process opened opportunities for multi-scale material design, which re-defined the direction of the research. This finding entailed the simultaneous formation of macroscopic 3D forms, surface textures, and micro-porous material structures. These multi-scale properties affected the material’s technical and perceptual qualities. The dyed pulp together with the multi-scale forms provided interesting variations in visual quality. Moreover, the surface texture enhanced the material’s tactile properties and gave a higher quality feel and enhanced rigidity.