What is natural fiber material?
Grass clippings combined with a natural binder
This natural fiber composite is made using the natural fibers from the Bourgoyen nature reserve from Releaf. Releaf extracts fibres from waste flows. Together with agar-agar and glycerine a composite can be made that is easily to process.If you are looking for a sustainable alternative to the foams for your project, look no further!
needed equipment
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Use of grass clippings (we used the ones of releaf)
Interesting sources/webpages
Manual
created by: Jamie Catry, Milan Claeys, Gijs Habets
Composition
Tools
Cooking pot
Syringe
Spoon
Mold
Glue clamp
Cling film
Uses and difficulty
Uses
Replacement for PU or PS foam
Boring, sawing, sanding, milling not tested yet but probably works.
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Difficulty
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Sources
Materiom
Recipe
Step 1:
Suck 2ml of glycerin into a syringe. Mix the glycerin with 100 ml water in a cooking pot and add agar-agar.
Step 2:
Set the cooking stove to medium heat and stir the mixture so it thickens evenly.
Sthe cooking pot from the stove when the mixture starts to bubble and has turned to a light brown color.
Step 3:
Add fibers and mix toghether vigorously.
Step 4:
Finally, apply the composite to the mold and press it together using the glue clamp. Make sure to apply enough pressure so that everything is properly compressed but not too much so that the composite escapes down the sides.
Step 5:
Let the sample cure in the mould for one day.
Stap 6:
Remove the sample form the mold ad place it in the oven. Let it bake at 110°C for 3 to 4 hours. This will remove all the moisture from the composite, making the sample harder and stronger
End Of Life
Reusable
- Mold
Compostable
- Shredded prototype
Other form of waste
- Cling film
- Packaging
