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Theo Jones architecture bioplastic pocket dyers exploded structure axo drawing illustration

Bioplastics: Screening & Forming

Oxford Brookes School of Architecture · BA Year 3

COMPOSITE WALL

A structural and insulating wall component made from layering two forms of bioplastic and steel reinforcements. Creating an innovative, lightweight and low cost enclosure for use in the Pocket Dyers design project. Incorporating benefits found in traditional rainscreen cladding systems and the use of waste/renewable bioplastic materials.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic composite wall structure illustration axo drawing diagram
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic gelatine screen folding structure illustration axo drawing diagram

RAINSCREEN

Folding a gelatine based bioplastic screen and pinning it to a rigid starch based bioplastic wall, creating a translucent rainscreen cladding with a ventilated and drained cavity.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic composite wall structure illustration rainscreen water axo drawing diagram

weatherproof

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic composite wall structure illustration axo drawing diagram airgap cavity

air gap

INSULATION

A starch based bioplastic formed through moulding into lightweight insulated walls and combined with steel reinforcement. With reduced thickness the bioplastic is translucent.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic starch sample
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic composite wall structure illustration axo drawing diagram starch gelatine
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic composite wall structure illustration axo drawing diagram insulation starch steels translucent
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic starch gelatine samples board
Material Samples
01.
starch (02), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
no colouring
air-dried (10 days)
02.
starch (16), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (10 days)
03.
starch (02), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
no colouring
air-dried (03 days)
04.
starch (02), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
no colouring
microwave (03 mins)
05.
starch (04), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (03 days)
06.
starch (04), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (03 mins)
07.
starch (08), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (03 days)
08.
starch (08), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (03 mins)
09.
starch (16), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (03 days)
10.
starch (16), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (03 mins)
11.
starch (08), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (03 days)
12.
starch (08), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (03 mins)
13.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (03 mins)
14.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (05 mins)
15.
starch (04), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (03 days + hair-dryer)
16.
starch (04), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
no colouring
oven (01 hours)
17.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (03 mins) / weathered (water)
18.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (03 mins) / weathered (frozen)
19.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
green colouring
microwave (03 mins)
20.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
green colouring
microwave (04 mins)
21.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
green colouring
microwave (04 mins)
22.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
green colouring
microwave (04 mins) / sanded
23.
starch (16), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (10 days)
24.
starch (16), vinegar (02), glycerol (01), water (14)
blue colouring
air-dried (10 days)
25.
gelatine (04), glycerol (01), water (20)
no colouring
air-dried (14 days)
26.
gelatine (04), glycerol (01), water (20)
blue colouring
air-dried (14 days)
27.
gelatine (04), glycerol (01), water (20)
no colouring
air-dried (14 days)
28.
gelatine (04), glycerol (01), water (20)
no colouring
air-dried (14 days) / weathered (water)
29.
gelatine (04), glycerol (01), water (20)
no colouring
air-dried (14 days) / weathered (frozen)
30.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (15 mins)
31.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (15 mins)
32.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
blue colouring
microwave (20 mins)
33.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
no colouring
tension test
34.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
no colouring
compression test
35.
starch (12), vinegar (02), water (14)
no colouring
compression test
 
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic sweet corn starch icon logo drawing illustration

Bioplastics are plastics from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats, corn starch or animal products. Traditional plastics are primarily derived from petroleum and produce more greenhouse gas.

Bio-Polymer(s) + Bio-Plasticizer(s) + Other Additive(s) = Bio-Plastic

The starch/gelatine is the polymer. Polymers are large chains of molecules like plastics, the acidic vinegar + heat breaks down polymers which then reform when drying. Glycerin makes the plastic more flexible and soft.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic saucepan icon logo drawing illustration

MAKING

GELATINE · SCREENING

Combine the gelatine, glycerin, water and colouring then heat gently until frothing. Remove from the heat and continue to stir. Pour into a flat mould and leave to air dry. Can be shaped while semi-dry.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic gelatine screening making
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic gelatine screening making ingredients drawing illustration
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic starch forming making ingredients drawing illustration

STARCH · FORMING

Combine starch, vinegar and colouring ensuring no lumps. Heat and stir as it rapidly turns from liquid to gelatinous paste. Low starch ratios are less viscous. Briefly wait for it to cool before pushing into a mould and microwaving. Check frequently to avoid overheating.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic starch forming making ingredients

FAILURES

Microwave overheating starts to burn the inside of the plastic and the centre can explode outwards. Oven heating/drying is hard to control and results in partially dry samples, while air drying starch tends to crack.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic starch forming making failure microwave
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic starch forming making failure drying
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic flir thermal camera icon logo drawing illustration

TESTING

STRUCTURAL

Load testing starch based moulded wall samples.

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic structural testing deformation chart graph load newtons compression

COMPRESSION

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic structural testing deformation compression
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic structural testing deformation chart graph load newtons tension

TENSION

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic structural testing deformation tension
Theo Jones architecture bioplastic testing thermal camera flir base

plasterboard

Theo Jones architecture bioplastic testing thermal camera flir

bioplastic

THERMAL

A basic thermal conduction comparison using a FLIR thermal camera between plasterboard and starch based bioplastic. The air cells of the starch bioplastic caused a transfer reduction of 7°C.

Theo Jones architecture Pocket Dyers logo
Project using Bioplastics

TUTORS Johan Hybschmann, Matthew Springett, Maria Kessler & Margaret Bursa

2014-15

© Theo Jones · Creative Commons