Recipe for Gelatine Bioplastics

GENERAL INFORMATION

Gelatine is made from collagen present in animal parts and comes in jelly, sheet or powder. It is a waste product from the meat industry, being repurposed for uses outside of the food industry.

RECIPE
INGREDIENTS FOR 500mL OF BASIC GELATINE BASED BIOPLASTICs

• Gelatin 100g
  • the polymer to make the structure
• Glycerine 25g
  • The plasticizer to make it flexible
• Water 500 mL
  • The solvent to dissolve the materials
• Essential oil 4 drops
  • Anti-bacterial to keep it from contaminating
• Optional: embroidery hoop, textiles, meshes, moulds or other casting surfaces (surface transfers texture to your bioplastic)
• Optional: Pigments, food colorants or natural dyes
• Optional: Fillers: eggshell powder, coffee debris, chalk, fibers, etc.
• Optional: 1 teaspoon of Dishwasher liquid

TOOLS

• Pan (non-reactive)
• Cooking plate
• Scale (1g precision)
• Thermometer
• Spoon
• Whisk

METHOD

• Mix the gelatine with the cold water in your pot, and stir until dissolved. Warm up the mixture on your stove to a max of 80C.
• Add the Glycerin and four drops of essential oil.
  • The general rule is the more glycerine, the more flexible the material, but too much will make it sticky
• Simmer for 15 minutes while stirring regularly, then let the liquid cool for a couple of minutes while stirring, until it gels a little but is still liquid.
  • The mixture should be at least honey-like before casting.
  • Tip: Remove any froth with a spoon, or absorb it using a coffee filter or kitchen paper.
• Optional: Longer cooking time (up to an hour) allows more water to evaporate and will dramatically reduce the shrinkage of your casted object. You will get a thicker liquid.
  • To cast larger volumes and solids with this recipe, evaporate a lot of water, until it’s very very thick.
  • Tip: Melting scraps can result in nice castings because they’ve already dissipated a lot of water.
• Optional: Add a filler and mix gently until it is evenly distributed throughout the liquid.
• Optional: Add a tablespoon of dishwasher and whisk until finely foamed to create a biofoam
• Pour the desired mixture into your mould or on your chosen surface.
  • Pour slowly to avoid air bubbles
  • Tip: Don’t cast hot bioplastic on the acrylic that is thinner than 7mm, it will bend.
• Let the material dry in a ventilated and dry room for a few days.
• De-mould when your plastic feels solid – often after 24-48 hours.
• Tip: regularly turn your piece over until it is dry, so as to avoid mold formation with long drying times.

REFERENCES

Textile Academy by Waag, 2020-2021, Link

Biofoil Gelatin by Loes Bogers, 2020, Link

Agar Wikipedia, 2023, Link

Gelatin Bioplastics Lab Pastoe by Shirley Niemans, 2021, Link

Bioplastic Cookbook by Anastasia Pistofidou, n.b., Link