7. BioFabricating Materials¶
Introduction¶
During Biofabricating Week, we explored the innovative process of creating bioplastics using a variety of natural ingredients. This hands-on experience involved following different recipes to create materials that are eco-friendly and sustainable. The goal was to experiment with combining natural materials, like starch, agar, and gelatin, to make custom bioplastics that can be molded and used in various applications.
Studio Tang
Lolo Ostia
Lena Giering
For me, this was my first time working with bioplastics, and it was an exciting opportunity to learn about alternative materials that can replace traditional, petroleum-based plastics. By experimenting with different ingredients and recipes, we created a range of unique materials, each with its own texture, flexibility, and properties. This week gave me valuable insight into the potential of biofabrication in design and sustainability.
Experimenting¶
BioYarns¶
* 12 gr alginate
* 40 gr glycerine
* 400 ml water
* 10 ml Sodium Chloride hydrate
* 100 ml water
* large pot
* syringe
* mixer
* food coloring (optional)
* prepare de alginate + water + glycerin a day before you make the yarns => so that the air (bubbles) disappear
* (optional) Separate the mix and add some color => I used some micas and food coloring
* prepare the sodium chloride with water => that's where the yarns will get solid
* add the alginate mix into the syringe and, with the same pressure, start generating the yarns let them fall into the chloride water
* let them rest form a while in the solution them let them dry
To create the bioyarns the first that needs to be done is the mix which will then turn into the actual material. When working with alginate the mix needs to be "cured" with water and sodium chloride hydrate. This water mix will be where the bioyarns will be created.
As an experiment I wanted to color the bioyarn with different food colourings. I tried several shades of blue, pink and purple.
After leaving the bioyarn for a couple of days I found out that the material shrinks and it looses all of its flexibility and softness.
Bioplastics¶
Gelatine¶
BioResin
* 48 gr gelatine
* 8 gr glycerine
* 240 ml water
* 1 tbsp dried flowers
* heat
* mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol
* measure ingridientes
* combine de water with the gelatine powder and mix
* heat the mix until it boils and then cook it for 5-10 mins
* add the flowers and mix a litlle more
* pour the resin into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol
BioFoam
* 48 gr gelatine
* 12 gr glycerine
* 240 gr water
* 10 ml soap
* heat
* milk foamer/ mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol
* measure ingridientes
* combine de water with the gelatine powder and mix
* heat the mix until it boils and then cook it for 5-10 mins
* add the soap once the gelatine is cookes => mix it generatin bubbles
* pour the resin into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol
BioPlastic
* 672 gr gelatine
* 168 gr glycerine
* 2838 ml water
* 522 ml vinegar
* 35 gr dried flowers
* heat
* mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol
* measure ingridientes
* combine de water with the gelatine powder and mix
* heat the mix until it boils and then cook it for 5-10 mins
* add the flowers and mix a litlle more
* pour the resin into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol
Agar¶
BioPlastic 1
* 4 gr agar
* 3 ml glycerine
* 400 ml water
* heat
* mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol
* measure ingridientes
* combine de water with the agar and glycerine and mix
* heat the mix until at 80º and then cook it for 15-20 mins
* pour the mix into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol
BioPlastic 2
* 4 gr agar
* 12 ml glycerine
* 200 ml water
* heat
* mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol
* measure ingridientes
* combine de water with the agar and glycerine and mix
* heat the mix until at 80º and then cook it for 15-20 mins
* pour the mix into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol
Sadly all the agar bioplastics molded :(
Pectin¶
* 292 gr Yerba mate
* 2.200 ml water
* 300 gr glycerine
* 150 gr pectin
* heat
* hand mixer
* pot
* mold
* sieve
* coffee grinder
* measure ingridients
* grind and sieve the mate
* combine de water + pectine + glycerine
* heat the mix until and then cook it for 5-10 mins as you add the filler making sure the are no lumps
* pour the mix into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol
Kombucha¶
* 1l water
* 8 gr black tea
* 120 gr sugar
* piece of kombucha mother
3D printing¶
This was my first time working with this technique. It was so much fun getting to know more ways of creating art pieces and experimenting with biofabricating and machines.
Clay extrussion¶
Since it was our first time with this machines we received a lesson from one of our instructors.
Biomass extrussion¶
Once we gained an understanding of how the extruder works, my lab partners and I began experimenting with two different biomass recipes for 3D printing. As a filler material, we chose to use wood dust, taking advantage of the abundance of waste material available at the BDC from the wood workshop.
Soium Alginate
* 4 gr sodium alginate
* 5 gr cmc
* 200 ml H2o
* 1 tbsp glycerol
* 5 spoons wood dust
* hand blender
* measuring cup
* measure ingridients
* combine all the ingridients but the filler and mix it with the blender
* sieve the wood dust
* add the filler (wood dust) slowly as you mix it with the hand blender
* it is ready once you have an uniform paste
Xantana
* 8 gr xantana
* 200 ml H2o
* 17 tbsp wood dust
* hand blender
* measuring cup
* measure ingridients
* combine all the ingridients but the filler and mix it with the blender
* sieve the wood dust
* add the filler (wood dust) slowly as you mix it with the hand blender
* it is ready once you have an uniform paste
We performed some hand extrusions to test how the pastes behaved and to choose the best base between a methacrylate or wood base.
- The xanthan gum recipe resulted in a more solid and firm paste.
- The methacrylate base performed the best, while the paste got stuck when using the wood base.
After that, we decided to try the Xantana gum mix and tried with a design on the 3D printing machine. Sadly, the mix wasn´t really working with the extrussion machine.
I kept trying different designs until onw of them finally worked!!
Mycelium¶
A few weeks ago, we began working with fungi at the BDC. To explore potential local biomaterials, we took a trip to an ancient forest in Karrantza to gather some native fungi that could be suitable for our research.
Back in the lab, we started inoculating the samples we collected outdoors, as well as some mycelium blocks that were already available at the BDC. For the forest samples, we used agar in Petri dishes, while for the mycelium blocks, we inoculated them with beer bagasse.
