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7. BioFabricating Materials

Introduction

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via Scarlett Yang
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

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Link to their work

Lolo Ostia

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Lena Giering

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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

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* 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.

via GIPHY

As an experiment I wanted to color the bioyarn with different food colourings. I tried several shades of blue, pink and purple.

via GIPHY

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Earrings and top made with bioyarns

Results

After leaving the bioyarn for a couple of days I found out that the material shrinks and looses all of its flexibility and softness. Since I had no expectations and no idea of how the bioyarns would cure, it did really surprise me how once the water was evaporated the material completely changes. I was hoping to achieve that jelly and translucent finish but the result was the opposite. Nonetheless the process of creating these bioyarns was very fun.

Bioplastics

Gelatin

BioResin

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* 48 gr gelatin
* 8 gr glycerine
* 240 ml water
* 1 tbsp dried flowers

* heat
* mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol

* measure ingridients
* combine the water with the gelatin powder and glycerine 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

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* 48 gr gelatin
* 12 gr glycerine
* 240 gr water
* 10 ml soap

* heat
* milk foamer/ mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol

* measure ingridients
* combine the water with the gelatine powder and glycerine 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 mixture into the mold previously desinfected with some alcohol

BioPlastic

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* 672 gr gelatin
* 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 mixture into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol

Agar

BioPlastic 1

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* 4 gr agar
* 3 ml glycerine
* 400 ml water

* heat
* mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol

* measure ingridients
* combine the 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 the mold previously desinfected with some alcohol

BioPlastic 2

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* 4 gr agar
* 12 ml glycerine
* 200 ml water

* heat
* mixer
* pot
* mold
* alcohol

* measure ingridients
* combine the 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 the mold previously desinfected with some alcohol

Sadly all the agar bioplastics molded :(

Pectin

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* 292 gr Yerba mate (filler)
* 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 the water + pectine + glycerine
* heat the mix until and then cook it for 5-10 mins as you add the filler (yerba mate) making sure the are no lumps
* pour the mix into de mold previously desinfected with some alcohol

Results

Working with gelatin was one of my favorite things to do throughout the week. The results that can be achieved woth this ingredient outshine the once I made with pectin or agar. The gelatin offered a good base to work with and the results that can be achieved are very different: from resin to foams and clear bioplastics. It was really fun to work with fillers and introduce some natural elements (flowers) to the mixture and create these fully organic materials. I am looking forward to use these materials in upcoming projects!

I would love on the future to keep working and experiment with the pectin and agar to achieve more interesting results.

Kombucha

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* 1l water
* 8 gr black tea
* 120 gr sugar
* piece of kombucha mother

* prepare a pot with boiling water and add the black tea
* let it soak for at lesta 20 minutes, then remove the tea
* add the sugar to the water
* pour the mixture into the container in which the kombucha will grow
* add the piece of kombucha mother

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Working with a living matter has been really exciting. Even though the waiting time is long, we have been able to see some of the results thanks to the scobys already prepared in the lab! The outcome of this material is really fascinating and once it is dried the material resembles a leather like finish.

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.

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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.

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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!!

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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.

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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.

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Unfortunately the results were not what we hoped they would be. The samples we collected outdoors were infected with organisms that ended up with the actual fungus.

On the other hand, the mycelium blocks that were already available at the lab were too old. Although they had been preserved in a sealed bag and refrigerated the fungus was not strong enough to continue the growing process.

It was a shame not to have any good results, but thanks to some of the samples and other projects that were taking place at the lab we were able to see how this living organism can grow!