Material test 2- the Flexibility of Linoleum

Given that my product design involves 45 to 90-degree bends, I needed to test the flexibility of linoleum if I were to cover these surfaces with it. To do this, I attached linoleum to wooden boards with varying degrees of curvature, including right angles, obtuse angles, and slight bends. I used a heat gun to soften the linoleum, applying pressure to shape it.

However, the results were not ideal—bending beyond 45 degrees caused the surface of the linoleum to crack, whether it was on sharp angles or more gradual curves. The material's flexibility did not meet my expectations.

Conclusion:
Due to linoleum's material properties, it tends to crack when subjected to significant bends. Moving forward, I will need to consider its bending limitations in the design.

Possible improvements include:
1. Avoiding extreme bends in the design, opting for flat surfaces or more gentle curves instead.
2. Using segmented designs, incorporating other, more flexible materials in areas requiring sharper bends.
3. Improving the process: Exploring alternative heating or bending techniques that could help reduce surface cracking.