BioDyes, BioPlastics and Bacteria Dyeing

Work in Group

Wednesday, October 18th we have participated in the dyeing of natural fibers, animal and vegetal, using different processes.

It is necessary to be equipped with a pan (no culinary use), a hot plate, glass jars, a net, and plastic containers.

_

Fibers :

  • Wool
  • Silk
  • Linen
  • Twisted Cotton
  • hemp

image1-dyeing.jpg

devided into groups

- 5 groups of 6 wool threads

- 5 x 6 silk

- 5 x 6 linen

- 5 groups of cotton threads

_

Mordants :

used to improve the fastness of the dye and give a different color according to the time and the quantity used.

  • Copper
  • Soda
  • Alumn
  • Iron

image3-mordants.jpg

_

Colors :

  • Alkanet
  • Annatto
  • Madder
  • Hibiscus

image2-2-dyeing.jpg

_

Step 1

Better to boiled vegetables fibers before in water and sodium carbonate during 25 / 30 minutes to remove the oil.

The animal fibers can't be boiled. (80C° max.)

a) In 5 different Pans :

- Water + nothing

- Water + Copper (Half water ; half vinegar ; copper)

- Water + Soda (two spoon of soda, boil for 30 min) used to raise the pH

- Water + Alum (for 50g of fiber add 7,5g of Alum ; 15%)

- water + Iron (half water ; half vinegar + Iron) better on vegetable fibers

For animal fiber, possibility to add 8% of crème de tartre.

b) Add one group of fibers in each pan.
c) Remove the fabric.

image5-dyeing.jpg

In order to remember which fiber has been treated in which mordant we used a knots system.

0 knot : Nothing

2 knots : Alum

3 knots : Copper

4 knots : Iron

d) Rinse the pan.

some mordants have been preserved in glass jars.

_

Step 2

a) Add the organic compounds for dye.

image4-2-dyeing.jpg

b) Add the fibers in one pan for one pigment.

The fibers have been emerged with the pigment for one hour.

c) remove and clean briefly the fibers.

_

Step 3

a) Modifiers

Same as step 1.

Used to change the shade and color of the fibers.

Can use the same substance.

_

Step 4

a) Classification

madder.jpg

_

alkanet.jpg

_

annatto.jpg


We worked on the process of making plastic with natural component. The Bioplastic is not resistant as proper plastic and melt again with hot water or hot temperature.

We use Glycerin and Gelatin with water.

Possibility to add colors and soap for a foam texture or other component to change the property or/and color.

_

1. Basic Mixture with Natural dye

  • Hibiscus water from dyeing : 60ML
  • Gelatin : 12g
  • Glycerine : 3ML

bordeau_foam_day2.jpg

the texture is still soft and fluffy.

bordeau_foam_day3.jpg

the texture is hard and curvy.

Maybe leave a flat object on top to keep its original shape.

_

2. mixture with Iron and Gold

  • Water : 60ml
  • Gelatin : 7g
  • Glycerine : 3ml
  • Iron : 1ml
  • Gold acrylic

day3_ironngold.jpg

The Iron gives this rusty color, the gold add matter.


3. Molds for BioPlastics :

a) First mold

MOLD_oeufs_BioFabric_Test1

Illustrator file from the previous module.

Laser cut in Plexiglas

thickness 5mm

  • Power : 90
  • speed : 10
  • corners : 30

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_15.47.56_copy.jpg

Issue

some pieces are not well cut.

. A lower speed / higher power melts the plexiglas and sticks on the edges. Flames remain few seconds even when the laser stops.

. A higher speed / lower power does not cut the material well.

. The circle on illustrator are not closed so it does not makes the corner's cut efficient.

b) Second mold

MOLD_oeufs_BioFabric_Test1-2

First mold copy x3.

select one group [Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Mesh]

Same for the other groups.

intersecting shapes.

Add forms to fill the gaps.

Laser cut in Plexiglas

thickness 5mm

  • Power : 100
  • speed : 14
  • corners : 30

issue

some pieces are not well cut.

Same problem as the previous form.

_

4. Remains of Bioplastics - Tests with molds

remains_bioplastics.jpg

_

a) remains of bioplastics n°1 with mold 1
  • Remains of bioplastics n°1 : 28g
  • water : 60ml
  • glycerine : 3ml

Pour in a mold.

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_13.41.43_copy.jpg

the substance goes underneath. maybe try with tape or plexiglass with holding clips.

mold1_test1_day2.jpg

The bioPlastic is not completely dry yet.

It separates in two when it is taken out of the mold.

_

b) remains of bioplastics n°2 with the negative of the mold
  • 47g Bioplastic n°2
  • water 60ml
  • glycerine 6ml

img_4320.jpg

Pour on the rest of the pieces from the mold 1.

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_14.06.33_copy.jpg

Pour on tape to keep the substance.

_

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_14.13.10_copy.jpg

the form keep the shape of the tape and gives a matte texture.

Maybe pour a second layer on top of the plexiglass pieces, the bioPlastic is too thin, it will makes it fragile.

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_14.10.45_copy.jpg

It is not completely dry.

_

c) mixture for two tests

1/ first mix with pieces of mold

  • Water 60ml
  • Gelatin 12g
  • Glycerine 5ml

separate in two before to pour.

One for small pieces :

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_14.31.08_copy.jpg

Pour on the tape.

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_14.40.58_copy.jpg

It is not dry yet.

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_14.47.32_copy.jpg

2/ second mix with the mold n°2 and bioplastic remains n°3

And with the other part of Bioplastic, add :

  • Bioplastics remains n°3
  • Water 60ml
  • Glycerine 3ml
  • Copper 3ml

Day two

the texture like before splits in two maybe because it's not completely dry yet and the mixture is going underneath.

The first part is still on the mold, too fragile.

Some part when out of the mold. The structure is really fragile. difficult to have a uniform shape.

d) mixture with Agar
  • Water 300ml
  • Glycerine 20ml
  • Agar 12g

divided for another test and also with another student.

Used again the pieces of mold but pouring first the mixture, then adding the pieces.

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_15.30.43_copy.jpg

the texture start to dry and brake when the last pieces have been added.

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_15.36.26_copy.jpgcapture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_15.38.05_copy.jpg

The pieces has been removed the second day. maybe its better to remove some minutes after pouring.

e) mixture with egg shell and Agar
  • Water 300ml
  • Glycerine 20ml
  • Agar 12g
  • Egg shell

capture_d_ecran_2017-10-24_a_15.20.31_copy.jpg

with Agar the texture is transparent. the result with the egg shell is not as expected. (esthetic)


In the bio Lab we have grown the bacteria Janthinobacterium lividum to extract his colour and use it to dye fabric.

the bacteria needs to be fed with LB Broth (Lennox) and Gelose nutritive a 2% / nutrient agar at 2%.

And placed in an incubator at 25C°.

img_4096.jpg

(impossible to turn the image in this moment don't know why, sorry for this)

img_4098.jpg

img_4101.jpg

We mixed the nutriment in a small bottle that we put in boiling water to sterilize it.

The containers (petri) and all the tools have been immerse in boiling water for 10min.

img_4104.jpg

We used living bacteria from other cultures to grow new ones.

_

There is two ways to dye fabric.

1. To let the bacteria grow on the fabric in the petri.

So we add the fabric, the food and on top the bacteria.

To extract the bacteria we use an Inoculating loop (is a tool usually made of platinium or nichrome wire in which the tip forms a small loop with a diameter of about 5 mm, and is used to smear, streak, or take an inoculum from, a culture of micro-organisms.)

Then leave for 3 days in the incubator.

img_4110.jpg

img_4117.jpg

After 3 days the fabric has been colored by the bacteria.

img_4273.jpg

Place the fabric in a plastic bag and sterilize it in boiling water.

img_4280.jpg

img_4099.jpg

_

2. To collect the color from the bacteria

Like the first technique let grow the bacteria in the petri with only food, no fabric.

img_4119.jpg

Leave it for 3 days in the incubator.

img_4274.jpg

the bacteria have multiplied and left pigments of colors.

Then take the color and add water.

img_4100.jpg

place the tube in boiling water.


Links