7. BioFabricating Materials¶

Research and inspiration¶

Thanks to the Fabricademy course, I encountered the topic of biomaterials for the first time. As I began exploring it, I was amazed by how many remarkable projects, artists, and designers are working with biomaterials — experimenting with recipes and techniques, and achieving impressive results. Many of the researchers whose websites I came across turned out to be Fabricademy graduates, which shows that this course opens a window into a whole world of experimentation — one that can easily draw you in for weeks, and even become a path for your future exploration and growth.

Glass-like dress by Scarlett Yang¶

Scarlett Yang used algae extract and silk cocoon protein to create a glass-like dress that grows over time and can decompose in water within 24 hours. The biomaterial dress changes shape in response to different humidity and temperature levels, twisting and creasing as these conditions increase. As Scarlett explains, this is variable depending on the geographic location and season that the garment is worn in.

She is doing molds by printing them on 3D printer and filling them later with biomaterial. For me the result is absolutely fantastic!

Crafting Plastic¶

I’m deeply interested in projects related to biomaterials, but what fascinates me most is the question of what comes next. That’s why, in my research, I focused on designers and researchers who have managed to find practical applications for the materials they develop. One project that particularly caught my attention is Crafting Plastics! — a design studio based in Bratislava that offers a wide range of products, from vases and home objects to eyewear, all based on up to 100% biodegradable material. They even developed and patanted material called Nuatan®. Nuatan® is a new generation of bioplastic material made from 100% renewable raw resources. It is both biobased and biodegradable, leaving no microplastics behind and contributing nothing to global warming.

Here are only some of their progjects I liked.

Senseables

Senseables collection builds up on the research into environmentally responsive biomaterials, as exemplified by a series of joint Sensbiom installations by crafting plastics! and Dumolab Research. This large-scale interactive piece changes color in response to UV radiation, highlighting solar radiation changes in real time and raising awareness about the invisible threats through the materials. Featured 3D-printed bioplastic stools and side tables are the latest collection of interior pieces with fluid, dynamic surfaces that respond to external UVR exposure with a real time color change.

Crafting Plastics! Nuatan® with UV reactive bio-skin

Collection 12

In Collection 12, a series of 3D-printed objects, the studio explore the aesthetic tension between the (un)natural, as well as fictional, parasitic structures. As the shift from petroleum-based to biobased plastic materials gains momentum, new aesthetic questions emerge, prompting a reimagining of plastics. The defining feature of this collection is its uniquely textured, organic forms.

Crafting Plastics! Material: Nuatan® Series name: Collection 12

Collection 2. Eyewear

Designer frames are forward thinking mono-material made from 100% renewable resources. There are two blends prepared: one more rigid for frames, the oter more flexible for teples.

Their unique style comes to life when creators start prepping mixtures in the laboratory in Slovakia. We mix a more rigid blend for the frames and a slightly more flexible one for the temples. So, the smart hinge design needs no metallic parts to hold the glasses together.

Crafting Plastics! Material: Nuatan® Series name: Collection 2

Experiments in the lab¶

SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) growing¶

SCOBY stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast — a living community that ferments tea and sugar (the process used to make kombucha). During fermentation, the bacteria (mainly Komagataeibacter xylinus, formerly Acetobacter xylinum) produce bacterial cellulose — a dense, flexible, and highly pure biopolymer.

When dried, this cellulose pellicle becomes a biomaterial with unique qualities — strong, flexible, translucent, and compostable.

We decided to grow our kombucha to have it bigger size than the one we bought.

We grew it using 2 recipes: with tea and with beer.

Growing SCOBY with tea¶

Ingredients

- Water — 1 liter
- Sugar — 100 g
- Dash of vinegar
- Black tea - 20 g
- Hibiscus Tea - 15 g
- Healthy scoby

Tools

- Rubber gloves (to protect hands skin from Scoby)
- Wooden spoons
- Deep Trays
- Kitchen scales
- Kitchen thermometer
- Measuring jars
- Stainless steel pots
- Frame
- Rubbing alcohol and vinegar solution for cleaning surfaces

Photo by Svetlana Khachatryan

The process

Washing SCOBY is very important to achieve good results in further kombucha growing. Washing a kombucha SCOBY removes excess acids, yeast, and debris that accumulate during fermentation, which helps reset the culture’s environment and keeps the bacteria active. It’s done by gently rinsing the SCOBY in clean water many times. Also, we need to wash all tools to achieve a sterile environment.
We covered it with washing soda. And then rinsed.
We brewed two kettles of strong tea, one with black tea and the other with hibiscus (for a rich red color).
To prevent tea leaves from getting into the container where the kombucha would be placed, we strained the brewed tea through a piece of fabric and poured it into a clean, dry vessel.
We add water with melted sugar.
Add a little vinegar.
We check the temperature (it should be about 22-25°C), and place the kombucha into the container with the tea.
We covered the container with a piece of linen and secured the fabric on all sides.
We placed it in a dark room with a stable temperature of about 24°C, optimal for kombucha growth.

Photo by Svetlana Khachatryan

Growing SCOBY with beer¶

Ingredients

- Beer — 0,5 liter
- Water — 0,5 liter
- Sugar — 100 g
- Dash of vinegar
- Healthy scoby

The process

We mixed water, beer, and sugar in a pot.
We heated the mixture on low heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolved.
Then we removed it from the heat and let it cool slightly.
We added vinegar to achieve an acidic environment, that prevents mold growth.
We allowed the solution to cool completely.
When foam appeared on the surface, we carefully removed it with a clean paper towel by gliding it over the top.
Once the solution cooled to 21–24°C, we added a healthy, clean SCOBY.
We covered the container with a linen and secured the fabric on all sides.
We placed it in a dark room with a stable temperature of about 24°C, optimal for kombucha growth.

Unfortunately, due to the high humidity in Dilijan, both Scobyes were attacked by mould.

SCOBY Leather¶

Ingredients

- Water — 750 ml
- Scoby - 720 gr
- Dash of vinegar
- Alginate - 12 gr
- Glycerin - 80 gr
- Calcium chloride 10% solution (1 liter of water + 10 gr Calcium chloride)

Tools

- Blender
- Kitchen scales
- Measuring jars
- Woocden spoon
- Frame
- Flat wooden spatula for spreading
- Spray bottle

Photo by Svetlana Khachatryan

Put into electronic blender water and socby and blend them.
We added a dash of vinegar and mixed. Then add slowly alginate.
We add glycerin and blend until the mixture becomes uniform. At this stage, a colorant can be added if desired.
To prepare the surface under the frame, we made a 10% calcium chloride solution and sprayed the paper under.
We evenly spread the prepared mixture over the surface inside the frame. In our case, the frame was large, so we prepared the mixture for the kombucha leather three times. Each kombucha sheet turned out slightly different, resulting in three distinct shades.
Then we sprayed calcium chloride solution once more over the surface of the future kombucha leather and let it dry slowly.

Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

So here is out beautiful scoby leather after drying. Шt is quite plastic and moderately dense.

Photo by Erika Mirzoyan

Gelatin Bioplastic¶

- Water — 240 ml
- Gelatin - 48 gr
- Glycerin - 24 gr

The process

Mix gelatin with cold water and heat the mixture to about 80°C, without bringing it to a boil.
Stir thoroughly until the gelatin is completely dissolved, then let it cool down to approximately 60°C.
Add glycerin and mix well until the solution becomes smooth and uniform.
Optional you can add something as wool threads, ground coffee, dried herbs or flowers. As for me with nice yellow color of my solution, I've chosem dried little flowers.
We stretch a piece of fabric over an embroidery hoop (frame). Inside this frame, we add the resulting mass in a not-too-thin layer and leave it to dry at room temperature for 2-4 days.

Gelatin Bioplastic with dried flowers before drying. Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Accidentally, my frame fell during transportation. So now this is part of the decoration of the column in FabLab Dilijan.

Gelatin Bioplastic with dried flowers after drying on the column. Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Agar Agar Bioplastic¶

For experiments with Agar Agar on the advice of Anoush Arshakyan I went to do some research on materiom.org.

So the basic recipe I selected was as follows.

- Water — 400 ml
- Agar Agar - 12 gr
- Glycerol - 18 gr

But after consulting with Anoush, we decided to add some more Gelatin and Liquid Soap

Agar by itself forms a rigid and brittle gel, especially when it dries. Gelatin is added to soften the structure, giving it plasticity and resilience. It acts as a natural plasticizer, binding water and preventing the material from cracking. Also, when combined, gelatin and agar create a mixed protein–polysaccharide matrix, where gelatin chains intertwine with agar’s network. This makes the bioplastic less fragile and more resistant to bending and deformation.

So the updated recipe that we used was.

- Water — 400 ml
- Agar Agar - 12 gr
- Glycerol - 18 gr
- Gelatin - 5 gr
- Liquid Soap - 3 drops
- Ground coffee - pinch

Agar Agar Bioplastic before drying with a pinch of coffee. Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Result I’d say the agar-agar experiment was a complete failure. Once dried, the material became extremely brittle and lost all flexibility. The color also turned much darker.

Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Threads from Alginate¶

First, we prepare a 10% calcium chloride solution in a separate container.
All ingredients are mixed together without heating. We stir the mixture thoroughly with a whisk for about 10 minutes.
If desired, a colorant can be added — otherwise, the threads will remain transparent. When using a colorant, make sure it does not contain calcium chloride.
Next, we draw the prepared mixture into a large syringe (without a needle) and carefully squeeze it into the bowl with the calcium chloride solution.
After a few minutes, we remove the formed threads and place them on a clean, dry surface (in our case, a plastic lid).

Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Alginate threads in calcium chloride solution and drying on plastic. Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Alginate threads after drying. Photo by Erika Mirzoyan

Conductive (should be but not in fact) Gelatin bioplastic¶

For conductive bioplastic with activated charcoal, I searched information on materiom.org.

So the basic recipe I selected was as follows.

- Water — 100 ml
- Gelatin - 26 gr
- Glycerol - 10 gr
- Activated charcoal - 16 gr

But after consulting with Anoush, we decided to increase amount of Glycerol and add some Liquid Soap.

So the updated recipe that we used was.

- Water — 100 ml
- Gelatin - 26 gr
- Glycerol - 14 gr
- Activated charcoal - 16 gr
- Liquid Soap - 4 drops

The process

In a cooking pot, off heat, mix the gelatin powder and the water. Stir and wait until the mixture thickens like a glue.
Start to heat the mixture on high heat. Stir time to time but not excessively to avoid additional foam. When the preparation become liquid again, add the glycerin.
Lower the heat as soon as you start to see a white deposit appearing on the surface of the mixture. Add the activated charcoal that we’ve crushed beforehand in a mortar and stir actively. Add liquid soap and stir actively to make a foam.
Pour the preparation on a flat surface (in glass, silicone, plastic or varnished wood) with edges delimiting the desired shape. IMPORTANT : prepare your mold before starting to cook to avoid a final panic !
Wait 4/5 days of drying before removing the bioplastic material from its molding surface.

Activated charcoal. Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Conductive Gelatine Bioplastic before drying. Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan

Result

The material turned out fairly dense and somewhat flexible. Unfortunately, it isn’t conductive.

Photo by Mariam Baghdasaryan