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LARGE POLYURETHANE PANEL SHAPES CHARACTER OF ZENO DESIGNER LAMP
The notion that light and ease go hand in hand underpins many of the creations of Italian light manufacturer Luceplan. This Milan-based company is renowned for lights that float weightlessly in the room like UFOs. The Zeno lighting system by young designers Diego Rossi and Raffaele Tedesco, awarded the coveted “Design Plus” prize in 2002 by the German Design Council, follows in this tradition. The light’s appearance is determined by a large panel made of Baydur 60, the polyurethane integral skin foam from Bayer MaterialScience AG. Despite its 1.20 m diameter, it weighs just 8.5 kilograms, which means Zeno can also be installed relatively easily. Large sections of the panel are fitted with a three-dimensional honeycomb structure that acts as a reflective surface. “A key factor in choosing Baydur was that this material supports complex geometries in large dimensions and with minimal weight,” says Dirk Böttcher, Manager of German-based Luceplan GmbH. Baydur enables the lights to retain their shape on a long-term basis and do not warp. 2a.effe of Lissone, Italy, produces the polyurethane element for Luceplan in a closed aluminum mold by injecting both polyurethane components in a single step. Depending on the design, the polyurethane panel houses compact luminescent elements for diffuse direct light or a spotlight for concentrated direct light. Metal vapor or halogen lamps are grouped underneath in a comparatively small ring, with their light reflected on the panel to indirectly light the room. This combined use of light sources, with differing efficiency and color reproduction levels, enables the lighting atmosphere and energy consumption to be varied within a wide range. Baydur 60, the flame-retardant polyurethane integral skin foam from Bayer MaterialScience, also complies with the strict UL94 standard of Underwriters Laboratories. The high reflectance of the coated polyurethane panel helps Zeno generate extremely high luminous flux. “The excellent coatability of Baydur made it an obvious choice,” says Böttcher. Luceplan offers the lights in both white and metallic look. An esthetic appearance for a light designed for use in, for example, public buildings or corporate meeting rooms is nice, but secondary. Safety, on the other hand, is a must. Baydur meets all requirements in this regard as well. It is heat-resistant and if formulated to be flame-retardant complies with the strict UL94 standard of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. http://www.bayermaterialscience.com
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