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7. BIOFABRICATING MATERIALS

This week we covered how to make bio-materials using agar agar / gelatine / sodium alginate / pine resin / cellulose

We also got an introduction on 3d printing using bio-material compounds and a DIY 3d printing set-up.

RESEARCH

BIOPLASTIC COOKBOOK

BIO-COUTURE

Biomaterial Design Extruding

INSPIRATION

I have been interested in finding a material similar to leather, having the same strength and long lasting properties as a more sustainable alternative.

ECCO Aparition Leather

This is a transparent leather by Ecco Aparition that has always fascinated me, however i cant imagine the process to make it is very good for the enviroment or sustainable by any means

After seeing Suzanne Lee's kombucha leather jackets i was very inspired about getting some of the same properties out of a vegetal and more sustainable method.


MATERIAL RESEARCH OUTCOMES

PROCESS & WORKFLOW

The process for most of the recipes are relatively similar, with only one (Sodium Alginate) being different in that there is no stove or heating element needed.

INGREDIENTS & RECIPES

  • WITH ALL THESE RECIPES WE DOUBLED THE AMOUNTS TO END UP WITH MORE MATERIAL

Agar Agar


Agar Agar - Semi-Flex

  • Pot / Stove / Spoons / Whisk
  • Beakers for Mixing & Measuring Scales
  • Moulds / Surfaces / Spray Bottle / Big Syringe
  • ALCOHOL / CALCIUM CHLORIDE
  • Additives / Colorants
  • Heat up the water on a low heat.
  • Measure the Agar Agar and add it to the water whilst stirring.
  • Measure the glycerol and add it to the solution and keep stirring.
  • Add the additives and mix
  • Pour into the molds, spray again with Calcium Chloride.
  • Leave to set for at least a couple of days.
  • Storing in the fridge or in front of a fan

Gelatine


Gelatine - Flexible

  • Pot / Stove / Spoons / Whisk
  • Beakers for Mixing & Measuring Scales
  • Moulds / Surfaces / Spray Bottle / Big Syringe
  • ALCOHOL / CALCIUM CHLORIDE
  • Additives / Colorants
  • Heat up the water on a low heat.
  • Measure the Gelatine and add it to the water whilst stirring.
  • Measure the glycerol and add it to the solution and keep stirring.
  • Add the additives / colorants and mix
  • Pour into the molds, spray again with Calcium Chloride.
  • Leave to set for at least a couple of days.
  • Storing in the fridge or in front of a fan

You can make a foam version as well by adding dish soap and blending very thoroughly


Sodium Alginate

Sodium Alginate with Wool

  • Pot / Stove / Spoons / Whisk
  • Beakers for Mixing & Measuring Scales
  • Moulds / Surfaces / Spray Bottle / Big Syringe
  • ALCOHOL / CALCIUM CHLORIDE
  • Additives / Colorants
  • Measure the Sodium Alginate and add it to the water whilst stirring.
  • Measure the glycerol and add it to the solution and keep stirring.
  • Add the additives / colorants and mix
  • Spray moulds with Calcium Chloride.
  • Pour into the molds, spray again with Calcium Chloride.
  • Leave to set for at least a couple of days.
  • Storing in the fridge or in front of a fan

You can also make "Bio-Yarn" using this method but using a syringe, extract the mix, and extrude into a bowl of Calcium Chloride in one fluid motion as to not get air bubbles and create a continuous strand.


Pine Resin


Bio-Resin

  • Spoons / Whisk
  • Beakers for Mixing & Measuring Scales
  • Moulds / Surfaces / Spray Bottle / Big Syringe
  • ALCOHOL / CALCIUM CHLORIDE
  • Melt the pine resin on a low heat.
  • Measure the wax and add it to the mix
  • Add the alcohol and add it to the mix, continuously stirring.
  • Once all has melted add the additive/filler.
  • Quickly take the mixture off the heat and put it in the pre-prepared mold before it sets.
  • This biomaterial only needs 15-30 minutes to set.

KOMBUCHA

Once Combined in a large bin, you have to put in the dark on heating mats and wait for the scobe to grow as much as possible while making sure it doesnt get moldy

This is an ongoing process as the time it takes to "cure" or take form is considerably longer than the above materials. taking from 2 weeks to a month for the results to be shown / ready for use.

BEER KOMBUCHA

Here is an example of the material once taken out of the kombucha bath and folded onto itself to create a leather like material.

MYCELIUM

This is by far the hardest to get good results from.

Due to the fungal nature of working with mycelium, extra care has to be taken to make sure everything is done in as sterile of an enviroment as possible

  • Every tool must be sterilized before coming in contact with any materials throughout these steps!!!
  • Spoons / Whisk
  • Beakers for Mixing & Measuring Scales
  • Moulds / Surfaces / Spray Bottle
  • ALCOHOL
  • Sanitize your filler materials in a pressure cooker
  • Add filler into mixing bowl
  • Add Nutrient Agar and Yeast Extract
  • Add Sculpting Mix
  • Add Mycelium
  • Mix thouroghly like making a dough
  • Add to a mould wrapped in plastic wrap
  • Put into a dark enviroment

I made a mycelium and saw dust material, adding a little charcoal in hopes of staving off mold

  • Here are some examples from a previous experiemnt.


3D-PRINT BIO-MATERIALS

It is possible to 3D print with bio-materials with a few DIY Changes to a 3D printer. There is an open-source nozzel than can be found online through the links in my research section.


Here is our test that caved in on itself, and an example of what is possible.


  • Our settings were not fully dialed in to achieve the best results.

The factors to take into account are:

- PSI / pressure
- Flow speed
- Viscosity
- material density

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