Tactile Materials is an international company dedicated to the supply and production of customized metal cladding for architectural endeavors. The Tactile formed zinc cladding™ is available for interior and exterior use.
The warmth and character of the Tactile Formed Zinc Cladding™ are accomplished with coil and Tactile's revolutionary plate zinc, available for interior and exterior spaces. Tactile's bending, forming, and cutting technologies allow the manufacturers to create bespoke embossed surfaces, perforations, and curvilinear surfaces. The zinc plate supports allow clean crisp cantilevered panel edges as well as the reading of material thickness well beyond conventional coil material. The Tactile Zinc Cladding™ can take on many hues and surface textures utilizing the Tactile Patinas and coatings.
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. This material consists of Special High-Grade Zinc (SHG Z13004) 99.995%, which is pure zinc with a small amount of copper: 0.7 to 0.9% by weight, which 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 |
Visual Characteristics
The Formed Zinc cladding by Tactile can be produced according to diverse specifications, however, some of its properties, such as its textures, are byproducts of the forming process. Tactile Formed Zinc cladding has a directional surface texture, and it can also be laser-cut to achieve customized designs. Its natural color is bright silvery with blue and silver tonalities, and it is available in six different tonalities to choose from. It can also present an oxidized color that results in a dull, blueish tonality.
In the case of external cladding, the surface will appear weathered with a dull, gray, and blue tonality, depending directly on environmental exposure.
A 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.
Fabrication
| 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. |
