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7. BioFabricating Materials

Research

Gel Mixture

For this week's assignment, I explored the creation of algae strings - a bio-based material that can be used for textile applications. This experiment involves creating semi-solid structures using sodium alginate and calcium chloride through a process called spherification, commonly used in molecular gastronomy but adapted here for textile experimentation.

The process is based on the chemical reaction between sodium alginate (a natural polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed) and calcium chloride, which creates a gel-like polymer structure. When the alginate gel mixture comes into contact with the calcium bath, the calcium ions cross-link with the alginate molecules, forming a flexible, string-like structure that can be used as a bio-textile material.

References & Inspiration

This experiment was inspired by molecular gastronomy techniques and bio-textile research. The use of sodium alginate and calcium chloride to create flexible structures has applications in sustainable textile design and bio-fabrication.

Key concepts explored:

  • Spherification: A culinary technique adapted for textile applications
  • Bio-fabrication: Using natural materials to create textiles
  • Sustainable materials: Exploring alternatives to synthetic fibers

Materials and Ingredients

Gel Mixture:

  • 1 tbsp sodium alginate
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tbsp glycerin
  • 1 tsp food color

Calcium Bath:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tsp calcium chloride

Materials Setup

Tools

  • Sodium alginate
  • Calcium chloride
  • Glycerin
  • Food coloring
  • Water
  • Syringe for dispensing gel
  • Mixing containers
  • Mixing tools (manual mixing was used due to lack of blender)

Process and workflow

Step 1: Preparing the Gel Mixture

I began by preparing the gel mixture, combining sodium alginate, water, glycerin, and food coloring. Since a blender was not available, I mixed all ingredients by hand, which required extra effort to achieve a smooth consistency.

Mixing ingredients by hand Gel mixture preparation

The mixture needed to rest for a few minutes to allow the sodium alginate to fully hydrate and form a smooth gel.

Step 2: Preparing the Calcium Bath

While the gel mixture was resting, I prepared the calcium bath by dissolving calcium chloride in water. This solution would serve as the reaction medium where the algae strings would form.

Calcium bath preparation

Step 3: Creating the Algae Strings

Once both mixtures were ready, I transferred the gel into a syringe and carefully dispensed it into the calcium bath. As the gel contacts the calcium chloride solution, the spherification process begins immediately, forming flexible string-like structures.

Dispensing gel into calcium bath

Step 4: Formation and Extraction

The strings were left to sit in the calcium bath for a few minutes to allow the spherification process to complete. This ensures the strings develop proper structural integrity and flexibility.

Video Documentation:

Challenges Faced

The main challenge during this experiment was the absence of a blender. This meant I had to mix the gel mixture by hand, which:

  • Required significantly more time and physical effort
  • Made it harder to achieve a completely smooth, lump-free gel
  • Potentially affected the consistency and quality of the final strings

Despite this limitation, I was able to successfully create the algae strings by persistently mixing the ingredients until they reached an acceptable consistency.

Ingredients & Recipes

Prepare this recipe 1 by collecting the ingredients necessary:

* 1 tbsp sodium alginate
* 1/2 cup water
* 1 tbsp glycerin
* 1 tsp food color

* 2 cups water
* 2 tsp calcium chloride

1. Mix sodium alginate, water, glycerin, and food color by hand into a smooth gel
2. Let the mixture rest for a few minutes to allow proper hydration
3. Prepare calcium bath by dissolving calcium chloride in water
4. Transfer gel into a syringe
5. Dispense gel into the calcium bath to form strings
6. Let sit for a few minutes to complete the spherification process
7. Remove the strings from the calcium bath

Results

The experiment successfully produced flexible algae strings through the spherification process. Despite the challenge of mixing by hand without a blender, the strings formed properly when the gel mixture was dispensed into the calcium bath.

Key observations:

  • The strings exhibited good flexibility and structural integrity
  • The calcium chloride bath effectively cross-linked the sodium alginate
  • Manual mixing was feasible but required more effort and time
  • The addition of glycerin helped maintain flexibility in the final product
  • Food coloring successfully integrated into the strings for visual effect

These bio-based strings demonstrate potential applications in sustainable textile design and could be further explored for various textile arts projects.

Fabrication files

  1. Recipe: Algae Strings - Gel Mixture and Calcium Bath ↩