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Materials 1-3.2
Below more information about each individual material is provided including materials, notes, and images.
01
Agar-Agar Only Material
Materials:
3.0 g (1 tsp) agar
240 mL (1 cup) of 1% glycerol solution
180 mL (3/4 cup) water
Agar-Agar:
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Sustainability
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derived from seaweed
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Biodegradable
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renewable source
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small environmental impact when harvested sustainably
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Benefits relevant to this project
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Plays a role in the plasticity of the material
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Glycerol:
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Sustainability
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Derived from vegetable oil
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Sustainable if sourced from renewable sources and manufactured sustainably
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Biodegradable
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Benefits relevant to this project
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Retains moisture
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Notes:
On the first day of the experiment, I attempted to create the agar-agar-only material. I followed the general procedure but with the ingredients listed above. However, during this first trial, I did not use parchment paper but instead used aluminum foil, which made the material stick to the foil. This caused a very low material yield, so I repeated this experiment to get a larger yield. Material 1 was a good start to the process because it was generally plastic-like but a little too thin. It also did not weld to itself. I then stored this material in a zip-lock bag.
Material 1 Gallery
02 Potato Starch & Sorbitol Material
Materials:
1.5 g (1/2 tsp) sorbitol
3.0 g (1 tsp) Potato starch
3.0 g (1 tsp) agar
240 mL (1 cup) of 1% glycerol solution
300 mL (1 1/4 cup) water
0.75 g (1/2 tsp) agar
120 mL (1/2 cup) of 1% glycerol solution
Sorbitol:
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Sustainability
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Sugar alcohol is made from glucose derived from various fruits and plants (mainly corn)
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Sustainable, depending on how it's manufactured and sourced
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Biodegradable
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Benefits relevant to this project
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Plays a role in the plasticity of the material
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Plays a role in thickening the material
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Potato starch:
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Sustainability
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Derived from potatoes (a renewable source)
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Biodegradable
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Benefits relevant to this project
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Strengthens material by thickening it
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Gives it the ability to crosslink (weld with self)
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Notes:
The second day of the experiment, I attempted to create material #2, which was similar to material #1 but included sorbitol and potato starch. The starch would improve the material's ability to weld with itself and make it stronger. I expected the sorbitol would create greater plasticity in the material. After creating this material, I dried it on parchment paper, which worked well. I was able to obtain a large yield of this material. Material 2 was able to weld with itself and showed greater durability and thickness. However, it was a little too brittle and cracked slightly when bent. I then stored this material in a zip-lock bag.
Material 2 Gallery
03 Gelatin & Sorbitol Material
Materials:
2.25 g (3/4 cup) sorbitol
2.25 g (3/4 cup) gelatin
2.25 g (3/4 cup) agar
180 mL (3/4 cup) of 1% glycerol solution
240 mL (1 cup) water
Gelatin:
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Sustainability
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Biodegradable
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Utilized usually discarded parts of animals, reducing waste
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Water intensive
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Animal welfare issues
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Benefits relevant to this project
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Increases plasticity
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Increases thickness
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Emulsifier
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Binds ingredients
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Moisture retention
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Notes:
On the third day of the experiment, I attempted to create material #3, which was also similar to material #1 but with sorbitol and gelatin added in. The sorbitol was supposed to create a greater plasticity and thickness. The gelatin was supposed to act as a binder, emulsifier, and moisture retainer to increase thickness and plasticity. I used the parchment paper drying method and dried it into one large piece, which I cut in half to store. Compared to materials 1 and 2, material 3 showed even greater durability, plasticity, and strength. While improved on several factors, material 3 was still not hydrophobic enough to repel water. It also was slightly too brittle and cracked when crinkled. I decided to choose one of the three materials to modify further. I chose material 3 to iterate off of due to its ability to hold weight, plasticity, and ability to weld with itself. I then created material 3.2 with a focus on increasing the water resistance and plasticity.
Material 3 Gallery
3.2 Silicon Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, and Sorbitol Material
Materials:
4 g (3/4 cup) sorbitol
2.25 g (3/4 cup) gelatin
3g (3/4 cup) agar
4 mL of glycerol
240 mL (1 cup) water
3 mL of silicon oil
Silicon oil:
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Sustainability
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Derivation of Siloxanes
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Non-toxic
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Durable
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Non-Biodegradable
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Energy intensive product
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Benefits relevant to this project
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Makes material hydrophobic
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Increases plasticity
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More glycerin:
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Increases plasticity
More sorbitol
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Increases plasticity
Notes:
For material 3.2, my main goal was to increase plasticity and resistance to water. To do this, I decided to add more glycerin and sorbitol. Additionally, I added silicon oil despite its lack of sustainability. Unfortunately, this material is far less sustainable than materials 1,2,or 3 due to the presence of silicon oil, which is not biodegradable. However, it was quite water-resistant and flexible. Due to time restrictions, this was the last material I created but if I had more time I would take what I learned with this material and apply it to another iteration.
