#biocomposite

Bio Charcoal Tests #5-10

Below are the results of more bio tests. I’m trying to get through all of the restology/davies bio-composites recipes, so I can make a informed choice which one suits the various applications I intend to use them for. So far the best texture has still been the first one, but I want to be thorough, test them all and add to this list of recipes. Again there are so many variable factors such as drying time and heat affecting the tests, so I haven’t been able to repeat the winning combination thus far.  

Test #5 -  For this recipe I used 5g ground charcoal (blitzed in a coffee grinder), 100ml water, 25g gelatine, 10g of glycerol.  This is the least amount of charcoal out of the all of the recipes and the texture has been influenced by the ratio.  The texture is extremely glossy and shiny, not really what I’m looking for in my final outcomes. I really want to celebrate the matt texture of the material.  

Test #6 - A repeat of the test one, however the texture is completely different this time around, which I believe is because of the larger surface area.

Test #7 - 35g charcoal, 100ml of water, 16g gelatine, 10g of glycerol. I’ve increased the amount of charcoal on previous tests. I used a mixed of finer ground and some larger chunks ground with a pestle and mortar. I had the expectation that this would be the most successful sample to date. It took much longer to dry in the print room drying rack, so this had to be left over night. A minor breakthrough; I’ve now become aware that the samples are best dried naturally!! The heated drying racks keep the materials moist for much longer or they dry glossy. 

Test #8 as above with peppermint essential oil, to hide the smell of gelatine. It worked

Test #9 with the addition of ground rosemary. Not successful as essential oil.

Test #10 - Repeat of 7, this time with a double surface area. I’m starting to sprinkle ground charcoal on top of the more moist areas where it hasn’t spread evenly across the baking sheet.

Final outcomes

The tests displayed and documented (through my exhibition and publication) attempt to critically interrogate and explore the material possibilities of charcoal as a biocomposite, while also evidencing the often futile and frustrating inconsistencies of results. Some turned out to be nothing more than a sticky black tar-like mess, unable to be pulled out of the mould, while others had a pleasing and tactile aesthetic, able to be rolled, shaped or moulded into a form. During the testing phase, I created a series of interrogation prompts – cut it, stack it, mould it, bend it, crumple it, tear it, break it, pour it etc. This allowed me to push the techniques, and to gain some new skills, so that I wouldn’t settle at the first pleasing outcome. All in all, I created over 30 samples.

On the table, you will find an array of successful and failed material experiments that fit together as a harmonious configuration. It’s been an important step for me to be able to acknowledge that it’s ok to let go and show development ‘warts and all’. I want the viewer to be able to manoeuvre around the objects; to feel and touch them. To see the variety of the outcomes, from matt to shiny, flexible to hard. The textures and tactile qualities are some of the main properties that I am trying to convey to the audience. Displaying the material in this varied and ‘unfinished’ way invites the viewer to consider its potentialities for themselves.

I feel pleased with how I have situated the materials, learning from AP1, letting the elements breath and have some connection to each other, understanding and testing what refinement means, but also being less precious and not trying to over engineer the elements - that is certainly the case with a hand printed book. It’s also been good to collaborate and learn new skills from other people, which I will do much more of going forward into major project. 

Neo-material Vision —— Sugarcane Bagasse

[Plant Fiber — Sugarcane Bagasse]

This biofiber exhibits a comparatively soft texture and high water absorption capacity, containing abundant cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.

Often employed as an organic fertilizer and soil amendment in agriculture, it's also suitable for manufacturing biodegradable materials including biodegradable plastics, packaging solutions, pulp products, textiles, and composite boards.

[Sugarcane Bagasse Composites — Interconnected Network Architecture]

Different ratios of sugarcane bagasse mixed with sodium alginate yield products that are both formable (plastic) and possess enhanced resilience.

The outer layer (epidermis) of the sugarcane stalk is processed (cut) to enable its extension and stretching.

[Botanical Planters — Harmonizing with Nature]

Our design incorporates these materials into the complete lifecycle of plants. Acting as vessels, they simultaneously nourish growth and, at the end of their service life, naturally return to enrich the soil.

Hempcrete is insulating and breathable. An ideal building material.

Which innovations are really going to make a difference and should we keep an eye on them? We ask experts in their field. This time: architect Daan Bruggink on biobased building materials of the future.

Anyone who says biobased construction refers to wood construction in the first place. [1] The sector is developing rapidly and is only expected to grow in size in the coming decades. But of course there are many more promising biobased materials in the proverbial starting blocks. Whether they all have a future is another matter, says Bruggink. “Mycelium, for example, is a promising material that fits perfectly into the story of biobased construction. But it has not yet been tried out, tested, certified, you name it. That is the essence for many biobased materials, when going through that entire process. It costs a lot of time and money and not every start-up has the means to perpetrate this.”[2]

Which biobased materials (apart from wood) are ready for rapid upscaling and the future? Bruggink selected three:

1. Agricultural (residual) material

Bruggink: “The biggest development I see at the moment is the use of agricultural crops. Think, for example, of wheat stalks, hemp and bulrush. They have very strong fibres; hemp, for example, was also used to make rope and sails. Agricultural crops have enormous potential as insulation material and can also be scaled up fairly quickly, I expect. It is produced, certified, put it in a wooden sleeve and you're done. Very short-sighted, of course, but that's basically what it ends up to. Which specific agricultural crops will win the race is difficult to predict. In an ideal world, per project one considcers the crops that are available and suitable.”

Straw is a commonly used biobased product for construction (especially roofs for new construction). It is not only a residual product of livestock farming, but can also be grown, harvested and replanted specifically for the construction industry.

2. Hempcrete

“Some agricultural crops can also be combined very well with other materials. Hemp is a good example of this. When it is combined with lime, a biobased material is obtained that can be used for insulation, but one can also build with it. Think of it as a kind of biobased sand-lime brick. To actually build, wooden posts are currently still needed in between, to support the construction. But I expect that there is a lot of future in hemplime.”

Hempcrete insulation

3. Biocomposite

“A third important trend is the emergence of biocomposite[3]. A company like Nabasco[4] is already showing the possibilities. They have facade panels in their product portfolio, made from reed clippings. But other natural fibres, such as flax and hemp, are also possible.

Circular Matters launches new biocomposite sheet material

The question is: will it be possible to make a biocomposite that is 100 percent biobased? The products currently on the market are around 80 percent. But I expect it to be a matter of time before there are biocomposite panels on the market that are completely biobased.”[5]

Source

Hidde Middelweerd: Echte Innovaties: 3 biobased bouwmaterialen van de toekomst, in: Change Inc, 20-12-2022, https://www.change.inc/infra/echte-innovaties-3-biobased-bouwmaterialen-van-de-toekomst-39348

[1] Read also: https://at.tumblr.com/earaercircular/the-climate-helps-building/5cri1jglt8q4 & https://at.tumblr.com/earaercircular/new-technology-from-norway-ensures-that-we-dont/6tzs3iij57jr

[2] Read also: https://at.tumblr.com/earaercircular/mushrooms-to-insulate-houses/xwe12tc02hri

[3] A biocomposite is a composite material formed by a matrix (resin) and a reinforcement of natural fibres. Environmental concern and cost of synthetic fibres have led the foundation of using natural fibre as reinforcement in polymeric composites.

[4] Nabasco products realizes innovative and sustainable facades with its partner NPSP. Our facade systems are composed and produced customer-specifically. With Nabasco® Sign they introduce the most environmentally friendly and at the same time high-quality traffic sign that shows that top quality and sustainability go hand in hand. https://nabasco.nl/collections/all

Biocomposites Market worth 36.76 Billion USD by 2022

 The biocomposites market was valued at USD 16.46 Billion in 2016 and is projected to reach USD 36.76 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 14.44% from 2017 to 2022. Browse 106 Market Data Tables and 40 Figures spread through 149 Pages and in-depth TOC on “Biocomposites Market by Fiber (Wood Fiber and Non-Wood Fiber), Polymer (Synthetic and Natural), Product (Hybrid and Green), End-Use Industry…

Abstract

A very simple experiment shows students the difference between primary and secondary molecular binding forces. Use an empty plastic cup for milk, yoghurt or coffee and destroy it by pressing the cup together. You will watch cracks only longitudinal the cup. Try to break the cup horizontally you will fail. What you observe are the secondary binding forces between the molecules oriented along the length of the cup versus the primary binding forces perpendicular to the long side of cup.

Keywords:Molecular Binding Forces; Recycling/Reuse; Life Cycle Engineering (LCE)

Introduction

What should be found/investigated ?

[answer: Are the primary molecular binding forces (within the molecular chain acting binding forces, i.e. between primarily connected atoms) actually significantly stronger than the secondary binding forces (between molecules acting forces)? How can a yoghurt cup be reused in a cup of the same application without violating high hygiene regulations in Germany? What role has Life Cycle Engineering for product developers play in the industry? For answers: Students should examine a yoghurt or milk cup.] [1,2].

Why/what could this be important for?

[answer: The shelf life of packaging helps to mechanically preserve food and make it durable for longer. If the digestion breaks easily, e.g. when falling down, damage to the goods and dirt occur. With this experiment, the students understand how the processing of plastics influences the product properties, how to basics of chemistry i.e. binding forces can be easily (and surprisingly) make visible and tangible and how to intelligently understand recycled material in food packaging (for hygienic reasons almost impossible!).]

Why is the experiment essential for the participants?

[answer: We all use plastic packaging and throw them away carelessly after use. Mostly we are still annoyed about the voluminous amounts of garbage. And we are surprised how much brain lard and unexpected highly interesting effects, however, are often stuck in such “worthless” products.]

First Experiment

What is being done?

[answer:

a. Each student brings a large (0.5 l) empty cleaned yoghurt or milk plastic cup

b. Each student brings a small (0.25 or 0.3 or 0.5l) empty cleaned PET bottle

c. The cup and the bottle are squeezed at the top of the edge (cup) or at its whole body (bottle). ]

What happens?

[answer: The cup breaks into the ground in longitudinal cracks; further crushing leads to longitudinal strips via cracks. The PET bottle does not break!]

Why does the cup break this way? Why does such a strip not break transversely to the longitudinal direction? Not, if you bend over 20x or more often vigorously back and forth?

[solution: the cup was deep drawn below the plastic melting temperature or injection molded above the melting temperature; the macromolecules are as a result shear forces oriented in the longitudinal direction. When breaking, the majority of the approx. factor 20 - 35 weaker secondary binding forces act between the polymer molecules; while the binding forces in the chain (between the stronger C-C-bindings) are stressed at right angle they guarantee a high strength. ] [3-8].

Second Experiment

If the students now repeat the same experiment on a piece cut from the PET bottle and load the plastic strip by 90° in each direction, what happens then?

[solution: this PET piece from the bottle has equally high strength in both directions. It does not break in any direction of loading!]

Why?

[solution: biaxially oriented films during production result in stretched macromolecule chains in both directions (offset by 90°); this is followed by high primary bonds and correspondingly high strength biaxially. ]

Further Watching

What is noticeable when the students take a close look at the fracture surfaces of the longitudinal cracks in the yoghurt or milk cups?

[solution: They detect a three-layering of the approximately 0.4 mm thick foil wall of the cup. Outside and inside white, in between gray.] (Figure 1).

What is the explanation for this?

[solution: the outer layers are made of original material, inside is recycled material, so old (unhygienic) plastic of earlier cups, hidden. This is produced by the so-called co-extrusion [9].]

What are the hygienic regulations in Germany/ Europe?

A short summary will be found in [10]. Plastic packaging producers are well advised to certificate their packaging standards after British Retail Consortium (BRC) of the Institute of Packaging. This is a surrounding standard for quality, hygiene and product safety. Alternatively, the German/European DIN EN 15593 standards is comparable to BRC. In April 2020, the Fraunhofer IVV published an investigation about disruptive smelling in recycling plastic as LD PE and PET [11] which shows still a lot of open questions.

Conclusion

What should the students learn from this experiment?

[answer: They are intended to provide an insight into the complexity of today’s mass-produced plastic goods. They will also learn about the chemical and mechanical fundamentals of plastics and get an initial idea of engineering. A qualitative discussion about holistic thinking in terms of Life Cycle Engineering (technical, economical, environmental, social) creates awareness of systemic thinking.]

Is there a social aspect to the question?

[answer: Plastics, their advantages and disadvantages as well as their recycling are an up-to-date theme. In this way, plastics affect a number of important aspects, such as resource consumption, consumer behavior, closed loop economy, Life Cycle Engineering, processing and handling materials, environmental protection.]

Are special competences promoted with the experiment ?

[answer: Theory (basics of chemistry) comprehend by hand ; technical understanding; ability of observing; logical engineering thinking; problem-solving behavior; systemic mindset;]

Is the experiment interdisciplinary?

[answer: Yes: chemistry, technology, materials science, business administration (qualitative), product(food) protection/ hygiene.]

Is this an actual research topic? If so, why?

[answer: Yes. Safe packaging is an important issue in resource protection and hygiene. Circular economy is technically, economically, environmentally and socially significant.]

Is it a theme of author´s own sponsoring organization?

[answer: Yes.]

Infobox

Student laboratory

a. Open Youth Workshop Karlsruhe e. V. (Offene Jugendwerkstatt Karlsruhe e.V.)

b. Fraunhofer ICT, TheoPrax

Contactpersons

Peter Eyerer, Fraunhofer ICT, Pfinztal, Germany

Dörthe Krause, TheoPrax Foundation, Pfinztal, Germany

Age and type of school of the target group

From grade 8 of all school types and also for teachers.

Fields

Chemistry, natural sciences, technique, physics

Time needed

Approx. 45 minutes

Go to

Tags

a. Primary and secondary binding forces

b. Production of packaging products out of plastic

c. Recycling , reuse

d. Closed loop economy

e. Life Cycle Engineering

f. Systemic thinking

Go to

Methods

Didactically leaded research-oriented experiment

For the solutions of the question/problems there is enough information material (in writing, visual (videos), haptic).

For more Open Access Journals in Juniper Publishers please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com/

Forms

These are the first sketches that communicate how I intend on displaying the biomaterials. The structured forms will be rolled into shape and stitched, with the stitching being evident as a means of closure of the form. I’m unsure at this moment in time whether these vessels will have a base, or whether it’s a purely decorative and aesthetically pleasing hollow form. Rolling them into a conical form represents how charcoal was created during the industrial revolution. In Germany, billets of wood would be piled up on their ends so as to form a conical pile.