NEÖSPHERA
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
In 2024, the American Chemical Society reported that seventy percent of rubber is synthetically made from various petrochemical-derived monomers, and this figure continuously rises. It is also reported that rubber constitutes of seventy-eight percent of ocean microplastics (Stevens, 2023). These microplastics are also airborne, with particularly high concentrations culminating in cities.
Statistics like these are the motivating force that inspire and drive our Activated Charcoal bioplastic exploration at NEÖSPHERA.
Rubber soles are a component of a large proportion of comfortable footwear, so finding a bioplastic alternative for rubber would revolutionise this aspect to be sustainable and biodegradable, especially where we can discover more water and wear-resistant outcomes.
Our recipe includes:
-
gelatin
-
charcoal powder
-
veg glycerin
-
castile soap
Basic Method
Soak Gelatin for half an hour in cold distilled water. Turn hot plate to mode 2, add veg glycerin and stir before combining the portion of activated charcoal. Stir for 10 minutes to allow the glycerin to help the gelatin and activated charcoal combine.
Castille soap has surfactant and stabilising properties, meaning it helps to further the blending and balancing of the ingredients; but it's main use is that of a plasticiser, allowing the outcome to have more flexibility and less brittleness.
For a more solidified or brittle outcome, leave out the castille soap and combine with clay and/or sand.
Sample variations with this method ranged from material outcomes similar to; latex, harder plastic, rubber- to samples mimicking that of asphalt.
Molds
I experimented with different molds, from 3D printed molds to Acrylic sheets. My findings were that the most successful texture for this material was glass, as the smoothness brought out the colour and glitter detail of the mica power.
Glass was also the least resistant when it came to removing the material from the mold.