Biodegradable Plastic Luminaire

The prototype I have made is a hanging luminaire (in other words a hanging light) where the overall primary material is made out of a self-made biomaterial. The idea of the project is to make a light that can be easily biodegraded when it is thrown away since most light fixtures are made out of non-biodegradable plastic or metal that is toxic to the environment. (Biomaterials are materials obtained from renewable natural sources such as plants, animals, or microbes and utilised to make goods or systems. These materials are frequently biodegradable, which means they may be broken down into harmless compounds by natural processes, and they are regarded as more sustainable and ecologically harmless than typical materials obtained from nonrenewable sources). The light source that is used for this specific luminaire is a LED strip.

The following equipment will be needed for the making:

1. Stove
2. Cups for measuring.
3. Saucepan or cooking pot.
4. Stirring spoon or spatula.
5. Bowl, sheet or mould/foam.
6. Heat gun or any other heating element.
7. Bostik Clear Gel glue.
8. Dowels = 10ml diameter x2.
9. Fibre rope = 7mm diameter.
10. LED strip = 130ml length.

(To make more of the item, multiply the measurement by the amount you desire. For example, 2 times the batch, you multiply each measurement with 2.)

Ingredients:

• Water = 1oo ml
• Tumeric = 5 ml
• Vinegar = 50 ml
• Gelatin = 10 g x3
• Glycerin = 4 ml
• Bicarbonate of Soda = 15 ml
• Rice = 1 cup

For the base, the measurements are multiplied by 10x in total (can be more if needed). The base consists of making the substance 2 times since the foam raises and boils over if it is multiplied by 10x. For each pot, multiply a maximum of 5x.

In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the turmeric, water, and vinegar.

Then, for a few minutes, stir in the gelatin powder until it has completely dissolved before adding in the glycerin (adding the glycerin together with the powder, it'll create lumps that will be difficult to dissolve). Then and glycerin until the mixture thickens slightly.

Mix in the baking powder. The mixture will start to chemically react and become frothy and fluffy. If the mixture rises too quickly, take the saucepan/pot off of the heat for a few seconds for the mixture to go down. Add the saucepan/pot back on the heat and stir continuously.

Before turning off the heat, keep stirring the mixture until the froth/foam goes down and the mixture becomes a liquid substance again. Slight foam on top is fine. It all depends on the preference. If a foamy substance is preferred, once it foams, you can turn off the heat and pour it out.

Grease a rectangular glass dish well and pour 1 cup of uncooked rice into the dish.

Turn off the stove and carefully pour the liquid into the well-greased glass dish over the uncooked rice on the bottom and leave to dry.

After leaving it for approximately 15 minutes in the dish, carefully place the 2 dowels into the mould at your desired place. Leave mould to dry.

Depending on the thickness of the substance, drying time can vary. Once it is ready the dowels can be removed and the mould can be carefully removed from the dish by tilting the dish over. Best recommended to leave the mould upside down to dry all around.

For the strips, the ingredients are multiplied by 2x. The rice is left out for the dangling strips.

Repeat steps 1 - 4 of Plastic Base.

Turn off the stove and carefully pour the liquid into a non-stick baking tray, spreading it out to allow it to dry.

When the sheet is ready, carefully remove it from the mould with a knife or scalpel. The best recommendation is for it to lift on its own.

Once the sheet is removed, the sheet can then be cut into 16 equal strips. (Can vary on the size of the base)

The fibre rope is cut into 2 pieces, each 1 1/2 metres. One end is twirled and glued to stay in place where the base is mounted. The other end is fed through the hole to be tied onto a fixture to hang.

The base is placed upside down on a lifted surface. The strips are placed to determine where to glue each strip. One end of the strip is heated with the heat gun to slightly melt it and then placed on the base (rice side up) to glue it onto the base.

(This step is optional)

Place the rope on the top part of the base (rice side up) all around over the glued end of the strips.

Cut the desired length and glue it on with Bostik Clear Gel glue. Leave at least 1 day to dry.

The LED strip is then stuck onto the plastic side of the base and the wire is fed through one of the holes with the rope.