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Below is a recipe that will allow you to create your first, at home, bio-based plastic material.
Below is a recipe that will allow you to create your first, at home, bio-based plastic material.
Supplies Needed:
Supplies Needed:
1.) Laboratory Scale
1.) Laboratory Scale
2.) Potato Starch
2.) Potato Starch
3.) Petri Dishes
3.) Petri Dishes
4.) Vegetable Glycerin
4.) Vegetable Glycerin
5.) White Vinegar
5.) White Vinegar
6.) Food Thermometer
6.) Food Thermometer
7.) Food Dehydrator
7.) Food Dehydrator
8.) Saucepan
8.) Saucepan
9.) Wooden Spoon or Whisk
9.) Wooden Spoon or Whisk
10.) Parchment Paper
10.) Parchment Paper
11.) Distilled Water
11.) Distilled Water
Click this button to find out more about supplies and where/how to get them:
Click this button to find out more about supplies and where/how to get them:
Plastic Process
Plastic Process
1.) Use a laboratory scale to measure the desired amounts of potato starch, vegetable glycerin, white vinegar, and distilled water by weight.
1.) Use a laboratory scale to measure the desired amounts of potato starch, vegetable glycerin, white vinegar, and distilled water by weight.
-It is recommended to start with 20 g of potato starch, 6 g of white vinegar, 6 g of vegetable glycerin, and 400 g of distilled water.
-It is recommended to start with 20 g of potato starch, 6 g of white vinegar, 6 g of vegetable glycerin, and 400 g of distilled water.
2.) Mix together vegetable glycerin, white vinegar, and distilled water. Once thoroughly combined, add the starch.
2.) Mix together vegetable glycerin, white vinegar, and distilled water. Once thoroughly combined, add the starch.
-After adding the starch, the mixture should be a milky color.
-After adding the starch, the mixture should be a milky color.
-Make sure the mixture is consistent and smooth, with no chunks.
-Make sure the mixture is consistent and smooth, with no chunks.
-Be sure to not let the ingredients separate before beginning the heating process.
-Be sure to not let the ingredients separate before beginning the heating process.
3.) Place on high heat, constantly stirring rapidly using a wooden spoon or whisk for the entire 20 minutes.
3.) Place on high heat, constantly stirring rapidly using a wooden spoon or whisk for the entire 20 minutes.
-Make sure the mixture reaches at least 70 degrees Celsius.
-Make sure the mixture reaches at least 70 degrees Celsius.
-Stirring consistently will reduce the number of air bubbles produced.
-Stirring consistently will reduce the number of air bubbles produced.
-Remove from heat as soon as the reaction occurs (when the mixture turns from white to clear).
-Remove from heat as soon as the reaction occurs (when the mixture turns from white to clear).
4.) After the reaction has occurred and the mixture has been taken off the heat, let the mixture cool to at least 50 degrees Celsius.
4.) After the reaction has occurred and the mixture has been taken off the heat, let the mixture cool to at least 50 degrees Celsius.
-Cooling will reduce the number of air bubbles.
-Cooling will reduce the number of air bubbles.
*Note: Some type of vibrating device (can use an app on your cell phone) may be used with the solution to help reduce the amount of bubbles.
*Note: Some type of vibrating device (can use an app on your cell phone) may be used with the solution to help reduce the amount of bubbles.
5.) Pour the mixture (20 g/about 1 TBSP per Petri dish):
5.) Pour the mixture (20 g/about 1 TBSP per Petri dish):
-into multiple Petri dishes and let air dry
-into multiple Petri dishes and let air dry
- OR into multiple Petri dishes and let dry in a food dehydrator
- OR into multiple Petri dishes and let dry in a food dehydrator
- OR on to parchment paper and let air dry
- OR on to parchment paper and let air dry
- OR on to parchment paper and let dry in a food dehydrator
- OR on to parchment paper and let dry in a food dehydrator
*Note: If the solution is too thick, parchment paper can be used to easily push down and spread the mixture within the dishes
*Note: If the solution is too thick, parchment paper can be used to easily push down and spread the mixture within the dishes
Tip: If the plastic is sticking to the Petri dish during removal, baby oil can be used to help prevent sticking.
Tip: If the plastic is sticking to the Petri dish during removal, baby oil can be used to help prevent sticking.
6.) Remove dry plastic from Petri dish or parchment paper to retrieve finished plastic sample.
6.) Remove dry plastic from Petri dish or parchment paper to retrieve finished plastic sample.
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