Material World

MATERIAL WORLD

a zine by Finlay McEwan, Aidan Gray & Charlie Cumming page 1

CONTENTS Wax

4-7

Paper I

8-11

Paper II

12-15

Gel

16-19

Cement

20-23

Plastic

24-27

Dust

28-31

page 3

SAMPLE 1 WAX

MATERIALS Candle Wax Powdered Foamboard Coffee Grounds

METHOD Wax was melted over gentle heat, adding in increasing amounts of powdered foamboard and coffee grounds until it was significantly more viscous.

It was then poured into a mould and left to set.

PROPERTIES Smooth

Gradiated

Light

Impermeable

Crystal-like

Scent of coffee

Visually Appealing

Soft page 5

TESTING Compression Test: By placing increasingly heavy masses on top of the sample, we saw how it reacted to pressure.

The sample showed signs of cracking after 65kg and sheared after 75kg.

It didn’t noticeably change shape before yielding.

Flammability Test: After holding the wax sample to a flame for 15s, the following results were found.

The wax melted, and produced a coffee aroma. The melted wax did not set on fire with just a match.

The addition of a wick might have changed this behaviour.

Buoyancy Test: By gently placing the samples into a water bath, we observed their behaviour in water.

The wax floated, and didn’t take on any water.

FEEDBACK ‘I like the quartz aesthetic’ ‘I can smell the coffee grounds’ ‘Sort of looks like a mountain or gemstone’ ‘Would it burn like a regular candle if you added a wick?’

‘I like the way light reflects through it’

POTENTIAL Scented Candles Mood Lighting Sealant To further explore the potential of the wax, we should conduct experiments into embedding LEDs within it to see if it would create a mood light. As well as this, we could try adding a wick and burning it like a regular candle.

Other could be added, such as oil from orange peel to see if it could work as a scented candle. page 7

SAMPLE 2 PAPER I

MATERIALS De-glossed external paper from foamboard Cornstarch Water Acetone

METHOD Paper was removed from the foam and soaked in acetone overnight. The gloss coating was peeled away to leave only the pulp.

This was mixed with cornstarch and heated, then flattened and left to dry

PROPERTIES Thin

Rigid

Brittle

No Scent

Fairly Smooth

Lightweight

White

Porous page 9

TESTING Flammability Test: After holding the paper samples to a flame for 15s, the following results were found.

The paper caught fire very easily, and burnt quickly with a large flame.

There was no noticeable aroma apart from smoke.

Buoyancy Test: By gently placing the samples into a water bath, we observed their behaviour in water.

The paper sunk to the bottom of the test bath, showing that it is more dense than water.

The paper didn’t seem to get waterlogged.

Writing test: Testing both fountain pen as well as ballpoint, we found that the paper absorbed ink fairly well, but the rough surface was difficult to write on.

FEEDBACK ‘I feel like its stronger than normal paper’ ‘Not as soft as it looks’ ‘Rough Texture’ ‘Seems quite brittle’ ‘Think it might still be slightly damp’

POTENTIAL Packaging inlay Take-away cups Firelighters/Kindling Continuing research into this style of paper, we could experiment with different additions, such as wood pulp or cotton in order to change the characteristics of the material, such as making it softer, less brittle or have better water resistance.

page 11

SAMPLE 3 PAPER II

MATERIALS De-glossed external paper from foamboard Cornstarch Water Acetone

METHOD Paper surface was removed from foam and soaked in water & acetone solution overnight. The gloss surface was then blended with the addition of cornstarch.

It was then flattened and left to dry on a radiator.

PROPERTIES Thick

Semi - Rigid

Flexible

No Scent

Smooth

Lightweight

Speckled Pattern

Soft page 13

TESTING Buoyancy Test: By gently placing the samples into a water bath, we observed their behaviour in water.

The paper sank to the bottom, however slower than the matt paper.

This shows that the gloss paper has a lower density.

This time, the paper seemed to get waterlogged.

Flammability Test: After holding the paper samples to a flame for 15s, the following results were found.

The paper caught fire easily, however burned slower with a smaller flame than the matt paper.

Writing Test: Testing both fountain pen and ballpoint, the paper absorbed the fountain pen ink fairly well, however was harder to mark with the ballpoint due to the softness of the material.

FEEDBACK ‘It kind of looks like marble or some sort of ceramic’ ‘Surprisingly fluffy’ ‘Oddly calming and I don’t know why’ ‘Could it be used for insoles?’

‘Very soft’ ‘Seems like some sort of fancy paper you’d get at paperchase’

POTENTIAL Shoe insoles Textiles Decorative Paper In order to further development into this gloss paper we could try and set it into different shapes, such as a paper cup and a shoe insole. This could take advantage of the water-resistance of this material.

As well as this, we could add soft materials to try and increase the tactability of the material, adding potential uses in the textiles and decoration markets. page 15

SAMPLE 4 GEL

MATERIALS Hair gel Foamboard dust Coffee grounds

METHOD Powdered foam board and coffee grounds were slowly added to the hair gel until a change in consistency was noticed, and it stopped being sticky.

It was then moulded into a rough sphere.

PROPERTIES Crumbly

Lightweight

Smooth

Brown

Bouncy

Slight aroma

Weak

Malleable page 17

TESTING Compression Test: By placing increasingly heavy masses on top of the sample, we saw how it reacted to pressure.

After 6kg the sample started to crack, and started crumbling after 7kg.

Flammability Test: After holding the cement samples to a flame for 15s, the following results were found.

The gel did not set on fire, however produced smoke and a scorch mark was left.

Buoyancy Test: By gently placing the samples into a water bath, we observed their behaviour in water.

The gel sank slowly in the water, showing its density is close to that of water.

The gel also started to disintegrate after approximately 20s submerged in the water. This shows it’s a porous material.

FEEDBACK ‘Smells like hair gel’ ‘Surprisingly lightweight, I’d have thought it’d be heavier’ ‘Feels similar to cork’ ‘Yuck’ ‘Exfoliating’ ‘It’s squishy!’

‘I can feel it crumbling under slight pressure’

POTENTIAL Shock absorber Heat resistant mat Insoles (with a coating) To experiment further, we could start with different consistencies of hair gel, and see how that affects the final material.

As well as this, tests could be conducted into finding a complementary material that is water resistant and could be used as a coating or capsule to house the gel. Together, this could be a good material for creating shock absorbing insoles. page 19

SAMPLE 5 CEMENT

MATERIALS Cement powder Foamboard dust Strips of foamboard Water

METHOD Two samples were created in paper moulds, one with a lattice of foamboard strips and cement poured over.

One of the samples had powdered foamboard added as an aggregate.

The paper sleeves were removed and the edges sanded.

PROPERTIES Powdery

Rigid

Brown

No scent

Rough

Porous

Surprisingly light

Brittle page 21

TESTING Flammability Test: After holding the cement samples to a flame for 15s, the following results were found The foamboard strips embedded in the first sample charred slightly, however the powdered foamboard sample was undamaged.

Both samples retained their heat well after the flame was taken away.

Buoyancy Test: By gently placing the samples into a water bath, we observed their behaviour in water.

Both samples sank quickly.

The sample with powdered foamboard seemed to take on water, and a slight hiss could be heard when brought out of the water bath.

Strength Test: Both samples could be snapped by hand, with the one with the lattice being harder to crack. However, this sample was thicker.

FEEDBACK ‘Feels like regular concrete’ ‘Quite light’ ‘Lattice looks interesting, could it be used as an aesthetic feature?’

‘Hard’ ‘Seems to crumble a bit in the hand’ ‘Very dry’ ‘The best thing to happen to concrete since steel reinforecment.’

POTENTIAL Decorative (such as in lamp bases or table tops) Building aggregate Hot plates By creating more different shapes and sizes of cement we could further test the durability and load bearing natures of the material. Furthermore, the heat retention properties of the material should be further considered.

As well as this, by using more waste items as aggregates, such as coffee grounds or plastic chips, experiments into creating concretes could be conducted. A control sample of plain cement should be used as a comparison.

page 23

SAMPLE 6 PLASTIC

MATERIALS Foamboard dust

Water

Coffee grounds

Starch

Vinegar Glycerine oil

METHOD Samples were created by mixing vinegar, glycerine oil, water and starch over heat.

Foamboard dust was added to one sample, coffee grounds to another and a third left as a control to compare results to.

PROPERTIES Sticky

Crumbly

Multicolour

Strong scent

Flexible

Springy

Surprisingly heavy

Rough texture page 25

TESTING Flammability Test: After holding the plastics to a flame for 15s, the following results were found Neither plastic caught fire.

The plastic made with foamboard dust displayed more signs of scorch marks, however this could be due to its lighter colour.

Buoyancy Test: By gently placing the samples into a water bath, we observed their behaviour in water.

All the samples slowly sunk to the bottom of the bath, showing that their density is similar to water.

They didn’t take on water, so can be assumed to be water-resistant After removing them from the water, the coffee sample had a stronger scent.

FEEDBACK ‘Very strange’ ‘Coffee ground plastic feels rougher than the others’ ‘Reeks of vinegar’ ‘If you drop it it bounces. Surprising.’

‘Damp on the inside’ ‘Looks like a baked potato but far less appetising.’

POTENTIAL Shoe soles (coffee plastic) Air Freshener Children’s Toys From our testing we found that the plastics had a tendency to give off aroma, so further wastage products could be added to take advantage of this, such as oil from orange peels.

Furthermore, the grippy nature of the coffee plastic could be utilised into creating non-slip surfaces such as gloves and shoe soles with further development. page 27

SAMPLE 7 DUST

MATERIALS Foamboard Elbow grease Love

METHOD Foamboard was clamped in a vice, and filed down using a rough file.

The dust created was collected.

PROPERTIES Powdery

Spongy

White

No Scent

Fluffy

Porous

Light

Compressible page 29

TESTING Flammability Test: After holding the plastics to a flame for 15s, the following results were found The dust caught fire easily and burnt with a large, bright flame.

It produced black, sooty ash.

Compression test: By placing increasingly heavy masses on top of the sample, we saw how it reacted to pressure.

The sample formed into a large, flat sheet with the same surface area however far thinner. This material was very crumbly and when handled seemed to revert to the original dust.

Buoyancy Test: By gently placing the samples into a water bath, we observed their behaviour in water.

The dust floated on the top of the test bath, and didn’t seem to take on any water, even when submerged.

FEEDBACK ‘That’s amazing. Its like snow or lint from a hoover.’

‘I just want to blow it all away’ ‘Its fluffy and nice to touch’ ‘Quite nice! It’s like snow but its not cold.

It certainly sparks joy.’

‘Could it be made into a pillow?’

POTENTIAL Fire starter Coat stuffing Fake snow To further expand, we could try using different grades of files and sandpapers to get different sizes of dust, that could be useful for different purposes.

As well as this, the insulating properties of the material should be tested, to see if it retains heat well and can therefore be used as coat stuffing or compressed into insulation blocks. page 31

Material World A Zine with love from Team 5 Charlie Cumming Aidan Gray Finlay McEwan PDE3 | 2020 rebrand.ly/materialworld