WEEK 10 Topic: Bioplastics

Name: Mehr Un Nisa Javed 

Date: 18th November’2019 

Professor: Marcela Godoy 

Objective:

1. Post your thoughts on the workshop and readings.
2. Post your final project proposal

1. Thoughts on the workshop: 

I think the workshop was really interesting as it was a new way to test different sorts of materials and to some extent gave insights on testing different materials for the final project. It was basically a way to think critically and be more courageous in future to do testing with all sorts of materials which could replicate plastic. The class was divided in the groups and each group tested a different material which would basically help the students to collaborate and try new materials. All the instructions for testing the new material were already handed in to all the group members and they worked upon them. For instance, the potato start testing was done with the basic materials which are readily found in the homes so this gave a sense that not all the advance materials are required every time. 

I believe there were a lot of trial and errors and in the first time the desired results cannot be achieved and this needs a lot of perseverance and consistency.

2. Thoughts on the Reading:

The reading “The Truth about Bioplastics” was very interesting for me and helped me to built upon my prior knowledge about the bioplastic. It has long been though that the bioplastic could be a solution due to its numerous advantages such as “reduced use of fossil fuel resources, a smaller carbon footprint, and faster decomposition. Bioplastic is also less toxic and does not contain bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disrupter that is often found in traditional plastics.” However, the article highlights that the bioplastics are not really a solution to the grave problem of the plastics because they also enhance the issue and do not fully encounter the problem of carbon footprint and pollution. Therefore, the scientists every going struggle to find the best possible solution has not finished and they are looking for other ways other than the bioplastics. 

3. Post your final project proposal.

I will make my own plastic which would be a good substitute for the plastic which is readily used.The type of plastic I am fixing to make is of the natural type. It will basically be a home made plastic made using:

Milk
Vinegar
Large Pot
Larger Pot (needs to be the same size as the other, or larger).
Spoon, preferably plastic or metal
Strainer or Colander, the finer the better
Stove or other item with which to simmer milk.
Paper Towels, lots and lots of paper towels

 

4. Hypothesis

1. When I make the plastic will it be quite rigid when it’s thick (1/8 inch or thicker), moderately pliable when it’s a little thinner, and brittle if it’s paper thin.
2. Will my plastic material be sandable and paintable when tested.

 

5. Items and machines I will need for my experiment:

I will test the flexibility using; shredder, will use weighing scale and the items mentioned above. 

 

My second idea for the project is to basically:

I will do more research to basically find the plastics being used in Shanghai the most, how me can reduce their use through creating awareness, I am thinking to make a website, with the facts on to make people know what is actually happening and then have a QR code and create awareness about the biodegradable plastics through my testing (incorporating photos of my testing on to the website). So basically, it will have three parts 

1. Research 
2. testing and what products could be made out of it 
3. making instructables for the replication in future 

Hypothesis:

• My website will create awareness amongst the people of all ages 
• My website will influence people to replicate the designs 
• all age groups will at least try once to replicate 
• my website will have new alternatives to plastics which will help to make new products 

 

Feedback from the Professor:

• make a collaborative website where everyone from the class could login, add content and ask questions 
• this would be effective and different because people have websites working on awareness lately but never had chat bots which could answer the questions and help them out with the quantity needed etc 
• it would also be effective because a lot of the classmates are working on testing materials so they would be good to add instructions and help the users in future