Tactile Materials is an international company dedicated to the supply and production of customized metal cladding for architectural endeavors. The Tactile cast zinc cladding™ is available for interior and exterior use.
Cast zinc presents a unique opportunity to have a monolithic, unfinished material in a wide variety of surface finishes and patterns. Cast zinc is a self-healing material and it is energy-efficient to produce. The Tactile Patina™ or coatings can provide multiple tonalities to support a wide range of design goals. Tactile Zinc Cladding™ has been engineered for interior applications with thinner systems and tighter tolerances.
Tactile Zinc™ is comprised of cast, hot-rolled, and cold-rolled plate and sheet material in various thicknesses, girths, and lengths depending on the project application.
Tactile Zinc™ consists of Special High-Grade Zinc (SHG Z13004) 99.995% pure zinc with a small amount of copper 0.7 to 0.9% by weight that increases hardness, ASTM B69-16. This alloy formulation allows for formability, enhanced ductility, and good strength.
Mechanical Properties
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion | Lineal Direction of rolled material 13.8 - 6 in./degrees Fahrenheit |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 22 to 29 ksi |
| Hardness (Rockwell 15T) | 59 to 69 |
| Percentage Elongation (in 2”) | 33-70 |
| Processes: | Shear, milling, laser-cutting, brake forming and drilling. The temperature during fabrication shall be above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Welding: | Welding will be limited to concealed stud welding. |
| Assembly Components: | Stainless steel and/or polymer-coated fasteners, stainless steel anchor clips, and VHB (Very High Bond) tape at selected locations. Aluminum extrusions with alodined or anodized finish may be utilized |
Visual Characteristics
| Surface Textures: | Directional as a result of production process or non-directional post-production. |
| Natural Color: | Bright, with blue/silver tonality Range of patinas must have a clear coating applied to maintain the color. Over time as the clear coating degrades, the underlying patina will degrade and the zinc will turn to a dark gray to medium gray/blue depending on exposure to the elements. |
| Oxidized Color: | Dull, with blue/gray tonality |
| Weathered: | Variable depending on exposure, dull with dark gray/medium gray/blue |
