20 January 2025

The Material Realisation Laboratory at Linköping University is a perfect place to learn more about different materials, their properties - and what they feel like. With more than 1,500 samples gathered in one room, it's a great resource for LiU's students.

Jonatan Forslund and Emma Lundberg are standing at a table looking at material samples.
Jonatan Forslund and Emma Lundberg visit the Material Realisation Laboratory. Photographer: Victor Berlin

LiU's material library, the Material Realisation Laboratory (MRL), is most likely unique in its kind in Sweden. Here, inside A Building on Campus Valla, more than 1,500 different materials are gathered – all carefully sorted, categorised and labelled.

It's a place where visitors can get a sense of different materials through their tactile and visual senses as well as learn more about them. MRL is available to everyone studying at LiU. Part of its purpose is to serve as a meeting point, a place to discuss materials and material choices. Its also functions as a classroom, where teaching and workshops are held.

The best on paper – not always the best

Material Realisation Laboratory. In the empty room there are three tables, as well as stools for these. One of the walls is largely filled with plastic boxes.
The Material Realisation Laboratory is open every Thursday between 10-12 or by appointment. Photographer: Victor Berlin

When developing new products, it is important to have good material knowledge. Knowing what a material feels like should not be underestimated. David Eklöf says that it is quite common that students change their minds and choose a different material for their project after a visit to MRL.

"It's very much about how you experience the materials. You can't get information about that from a screen. You experience the materials very strongly when you come here. It could be a material that has very good properties, but feels very off-putting when you hold it in your hand," he says.

According to him, LiU's material library is unique in its kind.

"I don't know of any other material library in Sweden that is linked to a university. When we started here, we visited some that had material rooms, but not at all in the same way."

According to David Eklöf, thousands of students pass through the premises every year. Those who have good knowledge of materials when they start working have a head start, he believes.

"They have a great advantage over other universities, in that they have actually experienced materials on site in a completely different way than many others have."

Cellulose, polymers or maybe ceramics?

The Material Library

More than 1,500 materials

Polymers, ceramics, metals, cellulose and other materials - for example textiles, stone and cork.

For students – and staff

Open to everybody at Linköping University.

Access to course literature

The MRL also has course literature in material science and design. Feel free to read on site or borrow.

Contact us:

Students working at MRL

MRL is open for drop-in on Thursdays 10-12. For bookings, please contact us. David Eklöf and the students working here are happy to help.

Johanna Slunga, johsl080@student.liu.se

Matilda Stenroth, matst195@student.liu.se 

Find us

Visiting address: A building, Entrance 15, Campus Valla  

Room 2C:942

Organisation

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