Observing our system in its complexity was a bit of a challenge in the beginning because we didn't have a concrete idea for a system yet. We solved this by using a black box diagram. The various inputs flow into various processing stages where an output is then generated.

We have looked at the projects of other groups to see if co-operation could be possible. A first group that agreed to work together was team 11. Their challenge is to find a way to shape bio-plastics, using a mold for example.

This week we did a first experiment with the fibers that we got. We are thinking about making a material with it by pressing it together with a binder. To find out if the fibers would have there own binder we tried to press them with water

One of the experiments to make a material was with gelatine and glycerol. 3 different samples were made with different amounts of grass clippings. The samples that were made look promising, but all of them are to weak yet, so changes have to be made.

We experimented with agar agar as a binder. This turned out to be quite promising, but we need to figure out how to apply more pressure. We also tested this with different sizes of fibers.

In week 3, we started experimenting with different types of binders for the natural fibers. One of these binders was casein. It proved to be able to hold the fibers together but it did not get very hard.

In week 4, we met with group 1. They work with mycelium, and in the future we will explore with the combination of our natural fibers and mycelium. The result could be used to prototype using a mold.

With the samples from last week we did some test to see what strength the samples could hold and what the samples would do if submerged in water. We did these test to see if we can make molds from it for group 1.

In collaboration with group 11, who make a mold under pressure to make samples, we started to do uniform test with different sizes of grass clippings and different binders to see if there is any difference in the end result.

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#naturalfiber

#group1mycelium

#group11pressedmold

In week 5 it was time to collect our samples from the mould after a week and see how they turned out. The sample with the small fiber parts showed to be quite impressive and strong, whereas the big fibers were less promising.

To understand and visualize our problem, we made an archetype. In this archetype you can see how the different aspect of the project/problem influence each other. Some reinforce the other, some negatively reinforce other.

The samples were baked in the oven after they were removed from the mould. In this way, we wanted to test whether this would have a positive effect on the strength. The samples came out crispy, but the strength did not change much.

We did some tests with the newly finished samples. These tests included polishing, band sawing, setting fire to a piece, drilling a hole and drilling a screw. We had some very promising results, and would like to try to laser cut and to mill in the following weeks.

We wanted to experiment with oven baking. Three samples were formed and pressed in different ways. Not pressed, pressed with just muscle strength and with a hydraulic press. These three samples were then placed in the oven to bake. In this way we can see whether the post-firing will have the same effect on the three samples or not.

This week we had another meeting with our contact person from Releaf. We gave a little presentation and told him what we had been doing the past weeks and what we are going to do. We also spoke about options of other binders and how the company (Releaf) maybe can help us with obtaining those.

Last week you could see that we made samples trying different production methods were we differed the pressure and used a finer type of grass cuttings. The samples that came out were not that strong as the previous samples but were very easy to mould in 3d shapes.

As part of an observation test we are wanting to do, we made a poster with instructions on how to make a 3D mould from our grass cuttings. This is not a final version and will in the future have a clear instruction and QR-code to a video.

After the lecture about the LCA (life cycle analyses) we started on making our own version of a LCA based on our project. The goal for our project is to make a lifecycle that can be described as cradle to cradle

As part of the LCA, we are making a overview of al the parts involved in the process and what kind of impact it has on for example nature and cost. To get that overview we categorised all the steps from start to finish in a block diagram.

As part of our observation and considering the restrictions with the covid-19 virus, we decided to make a package that we could give to someone with a instruction manual and a questionnaire wit some tasks to still gain information about our product and how it will get used.

We began our life cycle analysis using the edupack from athena. An important parameter that is calculated is the equivalent annual environmental burden, which is 56,7MJ for our bio-epoxy (for now). We will also compare this with standard epoxy in order to see how much better the bio-epoxy is.

#releaf

#naturalfiber

Last week we made a final decision to change our goal a little bit. First we wanted to make a material similar to chip board or a epoxy resin, but we changed that to a substituted for PU or PS foam so students can use it to prototype with.

As part of our user test and observation we want students to get to know our material through posters. We want to trigger them and get interested to look further into the material and try it out. The QR-code will lead to a website with an instruction video.

The first real user test/ observation has been done together with remi. He got a bag with materials and an instruction manual just like a student can find when they follow the QR-code from the poster. Remi successfully managed to make a sample on its own

We started filming an instructional video on how to produce our bio-composite. It was filmed entirely in the IDC. Now the video is in the post-processing stage and will be online by the time the poster is hanging in the IDC.

To complete our user test we let Remi do some machining on the sample he made last week. After we asked him questions about the making process of the material, about how easy or difficult is was to work with it and general question about our setup.

As a further test to observe engagement with the material we created, we made samples that will be placed in the IDC so people can pick it up, feel it and potentially work with it. Next to the sample will be the poster with the QR-code to the video.