Angel Hair®
ANGEL HAIR — A CUSTOM METAL POLISH FOR AMBIENT REFLECTIVITY
Angel Hair is a Zahner material process developed to soften the high-reflectivity of standard grain finishes. The patented process uses precision-controlled machinery to etch stainless steel with a fine grain. Available on a variety of metal alloys, this is the finest, smoothest, and most uniform light-diffusion metal surface available for architectural metal.
This surface was first developed as a custom product by Zahner as a solution to the reflective nature of standard finishes on stainless steel. Working with Frank Gehry on a number of projects, the Zahner team recognized that these parabolic shapes combined with the intense reflectivity of stainless steel would result in concentrated heat and blinding light. Angel Hair scatters the light, providing the most diffused surface while maintaining the metal’s reflective appearance.
Architectural ribbons clad in Angel Hair stainless steel wrap around the Peterson Automotive Museum.
PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.
The Angel Hair Difference
Since first developing this product years ago, other manufacturers have begun to offer variant polishes and “vibration-finishes” which attempt to replicate the Zahner surface. When compared to other metals from up close, you can see patterns and heavy marks in the “vibration” surfaces offered by other manufacturers.
Angel Hair® Stainless Steel by Zahner.
PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.
"Vibration" finish offered by industry manufacturers.
PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.Dimensions and Material Data
This surface is available in sheet and plate in any thickness. The sheet materials come in 48″ and 60″ typical maximum widths, and are available in several alloys based on performance in different environments. Custom shapes and three-dimensional forms are possible with the material. See product information and specifications here.
Angel Hair façade designed by Jan Hendrix for The Mexican Museum.
PHOTO BY TEJAS DOSHI | ARKO.To understand the reflectivity, take a look at the comparative gloss readings when compared with standard reflective or GB-60 finishes. This data shows Angel Hair Process applied to a base material with a 2B finish. If applied Angel Hair to a No. 8 polished base material or a bright annealed base material, you can achieve a variety of ambient reflective properties and appearances.
Maintenance for Angel Hair on Stainless Steel
Angel Hair on stainless steel is easily maintained. Stainless steel, if properly detailed and installed, will outlast most materials by a great margin. The polish provided by Angel Hair furthers this longevity by providing the metal surface with a greater ease of repairability. Should the metal get damaged, scratched, or abraded, the material can be easily polished by a Zahner technician using a field-version of the Angel Hair polishing system.
OHR-O'KEEFE MUSEUM OF ART AT DUSK, DESIGNED BY FRANK GEHRY PARTNERS.
PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.
