6. Biofabricating

For this week, the assignment was working with bioplastics by follwoing existing receipes or our own receipes. This weeks project was a days of trial and error and failures. I have created receipes mainy with agar-agar, although I had the intention to work with gelatin.

Process

Working with Green tea did not turn out well. -It is only after this experimentation that I learned in what state, at what stage should materials be mixed. Here you can see the images of the failures. -One was due the ingredient being added while the bioplastic had settled, while the 2nd was due to excess water.

Colored Agar-Agar

  • Left to cool overnight and in daylight

  • Observation: Slimy Texture, Varied Thickness, Coloration, Flexibility, Hardness, Rigidity, Stretchability, Sticky.

  • Learning Curve: Be gentle with while transferring the dried agar-agar. Varied on the thickness agar-agar bioplastic can be flexibile, stretchy, and even tear.

Colored Agar-Agar + Glycerine + Yeast

  • Left to settle and cool 30 minutes on Aluminium lid.

  • Observation: Slimy Texture, Smell of Yeast, Undissolved Yeast, Breakage, Red-Milky Color as end result.

  • Learning Curve: Using Aluminium as the base to cool the bioplastic works amazing for the bioplastic as it allows the fabric to be removed very smoothly.

Agar-Agar + Glycerine +Bhukoor

Bhukoor, is used as a tradition here in the Qatari/Arab culture to fragrant the spaces with good smell. For me it is almost a ritual to fragrant the home twice everyday. I imagined how me having fabrics around me having my favorite scent embedded would be.

(http://theislamicestablishment.com/blog/an-introduction-to-bukhoor-insence/)

  • Agar-agar, glycerin an d Bhukoor peices were mixed and boiled. Then pored on a plastic in layers, to find the desired thickness.

  • Observation: Slimy Feel, Delicate, Scent of Bhukoor embedded, Textured, Relaxing.

  • Learning Curve: Bioplastic can be made using different scented ingredient to give it a specific scent. Bhukoor is one of Qatar and Islamic tradtion, to burn scented wood pieces to fill the aie with good scent. In the past bhukoor was also used as a healing tool.

Bhukoor & AgarAgar

Bhukoor & AgarAgar from Rabab on Vimeo.

  • Agar-Agar + Glycerine +Bhukoor On heat resitant vinyl.

The earlier mentioned mixture was then poured on textured heat ressitant vinyl to create a textured feel.

  • Observation: Slimy Feel Coolness to touch and the eye Delicate Scent of Bhukoor embedded Textured Relaxing

  • Learning Curve: Different textures could be produced by either using 3D printed materials like PLA or TPU over which these agar-agar mixture can be poured onto to create desired tactile experience.

Agar-Agar + Glycerine +Felt Fibres On heat resitant vinyl.

  • After the agar-agar and glycerin were bioled, small portions of felt fibres were mixed. When the mixture was poured on the flat surface, strands of felt fibre were gentle tapped on the surfa.

  • Observation: Slimy, Soft Texture, Delicate, Scent of Bhukoor embedded, Textured, Relaxing

  • Learning Curve: Felt that is mixed into the mixture creates a lump, while felt fibres gently tapped on the surface leaves the bioplastic with the feeling of hair on the layer and soft, providing a different tactile experience.

Agar-Agar + Glycerine +Saffron On heat resitant vinyl.

  • Similarly the boiled agar-agar glycerin mix was poured on the vinyl template in layers, on top with saffron was sprinkled, after which another layer of the glycering mix was poured.

  • Observation: Coloration Glossy Coolness to the eye due to the pattern

  • Learning Curve: Layered agar-agar bioplastic requires around 2 days for drying. This current material is yet to be dried and exposed to heat and daylight.

Agar-Agar + Glycerine +Colored agar-agar

  • Plain agar-agar and glycerine mix was poured in the surface and the colored agar-agar was inserted whilte in liquid state.

  • Observation: Creating patches, spots of color, Fun way to work with agar-agar bioplastic, Merging of two materials, delibertaely.

  • Learning Curve:

  • Working with colored bioplastic gives us the opportunity to create desired pieces of biofabric and end result.

Agar-Agar + Glycerine + Liquid Dishwasher Plain agar-agar and glycerine mix was mixed with liquid dishwasher to create a foamy texture

  • Observation: Bubbles, bubbles, bubble Soft and delicate to touch Relaxing to the eye

  • Learning Curve: This wsa a quick experimentation with liquid dishwasher to create a spongy texture. This experimentation would require more than 2 days to completely dry up and create a durable plastic.

Agar Agar Droplets

AgarAgar: Tears of Joy from Rabab on Vimeo.

Our Future, Biofabricated Fashion

Our Future, Biofabricated fashion: Agar Agar from Rabab on Vimeo.

EYE CANDY