bioresin.md

BIORESIN

Tactility & sound impression

Description

A (naturally) amber-coloured hard bioresin, gelatin-based.

Physical form

Solids

Color without additives: transparent, yellow/orange/amber colored.

Fabrication time

Preparation time: 1 Hour

Processing time: 5-10 days

Need attention: None, just leave it to dry as long as is feasible with lots of airflow.

Final form achieved after: 10 days

Ingredients

• Gelatine powder - 96 gr
  • Functions as the polymeer (so it becomes a solid)
• Glycerine - 16 gr
  • Functions as plasticizer that bonds with the gelatine (makes it flexible).
• Water - 480 ml/gr
  • To dissolve and mix the polymeer and plasticizer

Tools

1. Cooker or stove (optional: temperature controlled)
2. Pot
3. Scale
4. Moulds (ideally with removeable base to increase airflow). I have modular silicon walls with metal wire inside them that allow me to cast and then turn the moulds on their side for more airflow and drying from top and bottom. I use a silicon or acrylic sheet with these mould walls.
5. Spoon

Yield before processing/drying/curing

Approx. 300 ml (make sure to evaporate a lot of water during cooking time)

Method

1. Preparation

   • Weigh your ingredients
   • Prepare the mold and find a place where you can leave it for a while, ideally near an open window where there's air flow.

2. Mixing and dissolving the ingredients

   • bring the water to the boil
   • optional: add natural dye if you wish to use color
   • add the glycerine
   • add the gelatine
   • keep the temperature below 80 degrees celcius while stirring very very slowly and gently to avoid making bubbles. I prefer a simple spoon to do this, not a whisk.

3. Cooking the ingredients

   • Simmer and slowly stir the mixture between 60-80 degrees celcius for at least 20 minutes or up to an hour. Turn it lower when bubbles appear: you don't want the liquid to move, don't boil it. This sample has some bubbles due to vigorous mixing.
   • Longer cooking time allows more water to evaporate. You will get a thicker liquid. To cast larger volumes and solids with this recipe, evaporate a lot of water, until it's very thick.

4. Casting

   • Let the liquid cool for a couple minutes until it gels a little but is still liquid and pourable.
   • Cast into the mould slowly to avoid bubbles
   • Pour from the middle and hold still, let the liquid distribute itself.
   • Put the mould away to dry in a cool place with lots of air flow (like near an open window). A warmer place might speed up the drying process but also allow bacteria to grow faster and can result in fungal growth.
   • If the mould has a removable base, remove it after 4-8 hours and put the mould on its side to allow air flow from both sides.
   • When using a flexible mould: let it dry without releasing to keep the form as much as possible. The resin will likely shrink and release itself from the mold. If it feels cold to the touch it is still drying. If you are using a rigid mold: release after 4-8 hours and dry flat.

Drying/curing/growth process

• Mold depth: 7 cm (filled up until 2.5cm high)
• Shrinkage thickness: 20-30 %
• Shrinkage width/length: 20-30 %

Shrinkage and deformation control

Letting it dry up to ten days to get to the final form. It will be flexible at first but will slowly harden until its totally rigid.

Curing agents and release agents

None.

Minimum wait time before releasing from mold

Using a silicon mold: 7 days (or until it comes undone)

Post-processing

Trim edges, or slice the slabs if you wish before the slab has completely dried and hardened. Store in a dry and ventilated room.