7. BioFabricating Materials

Research

Cover Art- Nadia Attmore

This week's topic was biofabrication, or the process of creating new materials rather than depending on pre-made ones. We talked about how academics and designers are working toward regenerative, biodegradable materials that have less of an impact on the environment. We studied how organic waste, bacteria, enzymes, and biopolymers can be transformed into textiles, coatings, and structural materials. For me, the most important lesson was that biofabrication is design altered by science rather than only being mindful of the environment.

References & Inspiration

The human body continues to be my source of inspiration, but this week I wanted to examine the brain, which has an impact on design before anything is materialized.

The brain is the representation of:

• Creativity and problem solving
• Emotion impact
• The invisible work that goes into what we create

I searched online for an STL file of a human brain on Thingiverse and Cults3D. What drew me to the model that I chose was how detailed it was and made me think of the creative process and how thoughts and responses travel and communicate throughout the brain. I wanted to use the brain as a metaphor for how fashion is created in the mind before it materializes, rather than using it for its physical and literal use.

As a Bio/Innovative Material Specialist, Alice Potts focuses on identifying and investigating material product diversification strategies from a creative and design driven standpoint. demonstrating the creation of performance characteristics and specifications to produce bio-based materials that are viable, scalable, and desirable for certain uses.

Tools

- Thingiiverse
- Ultimaker Cura
- 3D printer
- Mixing tools (scale, pot, heated plate)
- Gelatin/ glycerin/ water
- Container

Process and workflow

Step 1: Scaling 3D Models

I prepped my STL brain file for printing by uploading it to Cura. My Initail print effort was unintentionally quite little, I realized I was creating a tiny brain when the print bed began to move. I aborted the print to resize the file and restarted. This is where I realized the time it took to print larger items, I allowed my design to print overnight because my second attempt took an estimated 19 hours and 50 minutes.

Step 2: Biofabrication

I started experimenting with a bio-based mixture using gelatin and glycerin while the brain was finishing printing.

Ingredients & Recipes

Prepare this recipe by collecting the ingredients necessary, to be found in the list below:

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ingredients

* glycerin 
* water
* gelatin

What I Used:

    * Base recipe (single batch):

    48 g gelatin powder

    48 g glycerin

    240 ml water

For my project, I doubled the recipe to increase volume and wall thickness:

    96 g gelatin

    96 g glycerin

    480 ml water

Step 1:

    Measure 480 ml of water and pour into a heat-safe pot.

    Slowly sprinkle 96 g of gelatin into the water.

    Allow the gelatin to bloom for 5–10 minutes without stirring.

This step is critical to prevent clumping and ensure a smooth mixture.

Step 2:

    Place the pot on low to medium heat.

    Stir and continuously using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon.

    Heat the mixture until the gelatin is fully dissolved and the liquid becomes translucent.

Do not boil

You want it to be warm but not bubbling Heating time: approximately 10–15 minutes

Step 3:

    Remove the mixture from heat.

    Let it sit for 2–3 minutes to allow air bubbles to rise.

    Lightly tap the container to release trapped bubbles.

Step 4:

    Slowly pour the bio silicone into your prepared mold or around the object being molded.

    Pour in a thin, steady stream to reduce air pockets.

    Gently tilt or tap the mold to ensure even coverage.

Drying:

    Initial set time 1–2 hours

    Full curing time 12–24 hours at room temperature

The mold should be left uncovered in a dry environment with good airflow.

Signs the mold is ready:

    Cool to the touch

    Flexible but not sticky

Creating Bio-Silicone Mixture

tools

* measuring scale
* pot/cookware 
* mixing tool
* stove/hotplate

RESULTS

Experiment #2: Kombucha Leather

I worked with kombucha leather as a sustainable material. This was the first time I tried growing and using a living material. Instead of buying a scoby, I made my own using store bought kombucha. The scoby eventually developed a flexible layer that could be dried to create a sheet that resembled leather.

Ingredients & Recipes

*  Ingredients:

- 3 cups water
- 4 bags of Black/Green tea 
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups kombucha

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* Tools:

- Pot/kettle for boiling
- Measuring cups 
- Container to hold mixture
- Mixing utensils 
- Paper towl/Cheesecloth

* simmer
* measure
* add tea bags/sugar
* mix
* allow tea mixture to reacch room temp. before adding kombucha so the bacteria doesn't die
* cover container with paper towel or cheesecloth

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Making the Scoby From Home

RESULTS

FILES

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