Steph Walker Experiments

Chemical Engineering Student at Oregon State University
Using rice flour for plastic material: 12 part water3 part rice flour2 part vinegar1 part glycerin Here I made a double batch and when wet the mix is very opaque. As it dries it becomes clearer but is still only 1/2 transparent. I dried this on tin foil in the dehydrator and it took about a week because of the size of the batch. The “top” has a grainy texture and the bottom has a rubbery texture. I’m not sure why there’s such a difference in feel. Its fairly strong when pulled apart and feels like a thin rubber. 

Using rice flour for plastic material:

12 part water
3 part rice flour
2 part vinegar
1 part glycerin

Here I made a double batch and when wet the mix is very opaque. As it dries it becomes clearer but is still only 1/2 transparent. I dried this on tin foil in the dehydrator and it took about a week because of the size of the batch. The “top” has a grainy texture and the bottom has a rubbery texture. I’m not sure why there’s such a difference in feel. Its fairly strong when pulled apart and feels like a thin rubber. 

Flower ring-making.

Flower ring-making.

This recipe is semi-opaque and feels like an animal or plant-like material. 5 part water1.5 part corn starch1 part vinegar1/2 part glycerin2 drops food coloring  Cook mixed ingredients until they form a gel-like substance. Here I didn’t boil the mixture and the plastic turned out semi-opaque. The texture is very similar to a thin animal skin or a thin hydrated leaf. It is strong and semi-stretchy to a point. 

This recipe is semi-opaque and feels like an animal or plant-like material.

5 part water
1.5 part corn starch
1 part vinegar
1/2 part glycerin
2 drops food coloring 

Cook mixed ingredients until they form a gel-like substance. Here I didn’t boil the mixture and the plastic turned out semi-opaque. The texture is very similar to a thin animal skin or a thin hydrated leaf. It is strong and semi-stretchy to a point. 

Lesson: Don’t pour starch plastic onto material that will bend easily! This recipe: 5 parts water1 1/2 part starch1 part vinegar1/2 part glycerin 

Lesson: Don’t pour starch plastic onto material that will bend easily!

This recipe:

5 parts water
1 1/2 part starch
1 part vinegar
1/2 part glycerin 

Overcooked corn starch plastic gets lumpy. Don’t go too far!

Overcooked corn starch plastic gets lumpy. Don’t go too far!

This is the bioplastic recipe using: 7 parts water1 part vinegar1/2 part glycerine1 1/2 parts starch Here I poured it in thick circle molds, not sure how it’s going to dry - seems to be like dried hair gel so far. But some people say it should be dried for a few days. I tried adding in some soot as a pigment but it didn’t separate very much in the liquid, hence the speckles.

This is the bioplastic recipe using:

7 parts water
1 part vinegar
1/2 part glycerine
1 1/2 parts starch

Here I poured it in thick circle molds, not sure how it’s going to dry - seems to be like dried hair gel so far. But some people say it should be dried for a few days. I tried adding in some soot as a pigment but it didn’t separate very much in the liquid, hence the speckles.

I’ve been experimenting in making bioplastic at home, so far there hasn’t been a perfect recipe yet. This one is made out of : 1 tbsp corn starch4 tbsp water (tap)1 tsp glycerin1 tsp vinegar You basically mix the ingredients together cold and then stir + heat until everything bubbles and becomes “fluffy”. Spread mix out on a piece of tin foil or bendable flat surface so you can eventually peel it off. Let dry for a day unless you have a dehydrator. More glycerin = softer plastic. Instructions are available on video here. 

I’ve been experimenting in making bioplastic at home, so far there hasn’t been a perfect recipe yet.

This one is made out of :

1 tbsp corn starch
4 tbsp water (tap)
1 tsp glycerin
1 tsp vinegar

You basically mix the ingredients together cold and then stir + heat until everything bubbles and becomes “fluffy”. Spread mix out on a piece of tin foil or bendable flat surface so you can eventually peel it off. Let dry for a day unless you have a dehydrator.

More glycerin = softer plastic.

Instructions are available on video here.