Plant based Bio-Plastic (Attempt 1)

Experiment

This bio-plastic is only made with 4 ingredients that aren’t hard to source and can be made in your kitchen. I came across a bio-materials cook-book in which I came across this recipe. However since trying the recipe it has not worked for me as I would have liked so it has encouraged me to explore it further.

Material

Composite
Experimental materials

Craft

Other

General Technique

Combining
Other

Specific Technique

Firstly a glass chopping board was prepared by taping an old wooden frame to it and ensuring the edges were sealed. Then all the ingredients were weighed out using a precision scale. All the ingredients were placed in a stainless steal pot and heated until the solution turned to a viscous gel. When all the liquid has evaporated the gel like solution was poured into the frame and smooth it out with a spatula. It was then left in a cool dry place.

Properties & Qualities

Application

Sample Making Other

Colour

Other

Sample Information

Date of creation

June 2023

Weight

102g

Culture & Context

I have a strong interest in bio based materials and as plastic is such a pollutant material I think its vital to research, explore and try to find sustainable alternatives to this durable and widely used material that causes so much harm. Which I chose to experiment with a recipe from a bio-plastic’s cookbook by Margaret Dunne. The recipe I explore was one that can be made from mainly standard ingredients so it was accessible to make with the resources I had available.

Process & Production

The process of this material was firstly preparing all the ingredients and equipment needed. A frame was prepared to act as a mould and all the ingredients were weighed out using precision weighing scales. They were all then added to a stainless steal pot and heated until the solution turned viscous. Once all the excess liquid was evaporated the solution was poured into the frame mould and smoothed out with a spatula. It was then left to dry. Unfortunately after a week this sample was still very gel like and didn’t quite go as planned. Upon reflection I think I used too much glycerine and the sheet of the material was too thick. I will try again to create a more success sample.

Recipe Details

Ingredients :
20g Glycerine.
80g Water.
1.6g Corn Starch
1.5ml Vinegar.
Method :
Prepare a wooden frame by taping it to a glass chopping board ensuring all the edges
are sealed.
Weigh out all ingredients with precision scales.
Put all ingredients in a stainless steal pot and heat for 10 minutes.
When the solution becomes viscous, continue to heat it for another few minutes to
evaporate excess liquid.
Then pour the gel like solution into the frame and smooth it out with a spatula/
squeegee.
Let dry in a dry space.
The cut out of frame.

Credits

Craft Maker

Amy Kerr (AK Textiles)

Library Contributor

National College of Art & Design Ireland

Photographer

Amy Kerr

Practitioner

Amy Kerr

Other materials from this practitioner

Mockleno BeeBums 3D Printed

The weft of this sample is a fine Tunisian silk that is a golden honey colour.

Fabric manipulation through 3D printing – coffee beans

Traditional fabric manipulation techniques through the use of technology

Striped manipulations with a double cloth weave.

Using the wool warp dyed with waste coffee

Double cloth weave with stripes with tubes filled with wool fibres as wadding.

This sample is a double cloth weave exploring the possibilities with tubes and wadding.

Double cloth weave with stripes using repurposed green bean coffee bags as yarn.

Series of woven samples inspired by the coffee industry

Double cloth weave with block colours and stripes to create pockets that are filled with
roasted coffee beans.

Woven samples inspired by the coffee industry

Other Materials

View random material
VIEW ALL