Clay based paint is a natural, breathable and zero volatile organic emitting paint. It is perfect for use in interior rooms and certain versions are suitable for humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Clay based paint is a natural, breathable and zero volatile organic emitting paint. It is perfect for use in interior rooms and certain versions are suitable for humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Uses
Known use is for painting of interior rooms. Manufacturers state that clay paint can be applied on clay plaster, all other solid plasters and on drywalls, fibrous plasterboards, concrete, plastic-free wallpapers, fleece wallpaper. Unsuitable surfaces are e.g. old glue-bound distemper coatings, lime paints, oil paint coatings, latex- and plastic coatings, metal, surfaces with residues of glue and all even, non-absorbent surfaces as well as permanently humid surfaces.
Potential Uses
None as yet identified. Your ideas welcome!
Processes
Main constituents include:
clay
pigment (for white titanium dioxide or marble flour, other colours can be created from natural pigments)
adhesive: natural adhesives include milk or vegetable casein
water
There are various homemade DIY can be made with just flour, water, clay and a colour pigment.
The paint can be purchased in powder form therefore reducing its weight for transport purposes and facilitating storage. The powder is mixed with water using an electric drill with paint stirrer. See manufacturer’s data sheets for instructions.
A composite of carbonized bamboo strands compressed with water-based adhesive has three times the density of natural bamboo, resists moisture absorption, swelling, and decay from bacteria and fungi.
Thin slices of bamboo stalk are carbonized, weaved and compressed to produce a composite which has three times the density of natural bamboo, resists moisture absorption, swelling, and decay from bacteria and fungi. The carbonisation processes is effective at eliminating all natural sugars in the bamboo material and therefore becoming unattractive for fungi and bacteria.
Uses
A common use is for flooring providing a more resistant and faster growing alternative to hardwood flooring.
Potential Uses
WSB is also being explored as a rebar (reinforced concrete) alternative to replace steel. One such bamboo known as Dirk Hebel Bamboo is being tested by researchers (led by Dirk Hebel) at the Future Cities Laboratory in Singapore. The results have been positive however research continues on an alternative WSB manufacturing process that reduces potential damage to bamboo fibres caused by carbonisation.
Dirk Hebel Bamboo strips are tested for strength and resistance to tensile forces.This use would be particularly exciting given the environmental harm from high carbon intensity steel manufacture.
Processes
Engineering bamboo involves several processes designed to improve strength and longevity. In general the following steps are taken: 1. Slice the bamboo into thin strips2. Boil in water to cleanse3. Carbonize bamboo through streaming or high temperature heating4. Dry5. Weave bamboo strips6. Apply protective finish
Certain palm trees have thick fibrous bark that can easily be peeled off and used directly or with minimal processing as a fabric.
Certain palm trees have thick fibrous bark that can easily be peeled off and used directly or with minimal processing as a fabric.
Uses
Traditionally used for raincoats or other hardy outdoor clothing and accessories. The palm bark raincoat was definitely used in China. In South America, there are examples of bark used to make tops and dresses. [2] Whilst in Hawai, the palm sheath basket or bags are a traditional craft. [3] The bark from the Piassava palm family has also been used for roofing in tropical areas in South America and Africa.
Contemporary uses including building facades [1], accessories and arts and crafts with a modern style. [3]
These contain saponins which are a natural surfactant, and have been used for washing the body, laundry and dishes where they grow in Asia and the Americas.
Soapberries (also known as soapnuts) are the fruit of several species of trees from the Sapindusbgenus which can be used as a soap to wash the body, hair and clothes. Use of the soapberries was common in South and East Asia until just 20 to 30 years ago. It is also claimed that American Indians used these for washing.
Uses
Clothes washing is the most common use; soapnuts can even be placed in a modern washing machine. Body and hair washing is less common because the fruit foam stings eyes and should not be ingested. Other uses are dishwasher liquid or household detergent.
The soap can allegedly help treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
The soapberry could also be used as a mosquito repellent. Scientific research[1] has shown that the “kernel extracts of soapberry disrupt the activity of enzymes of larvae and pupae and inhibit the growth of Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that spreads viral diseases such as yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya.”
Process
The soapberries contain saponin which acts as a natural surfactant.
You can grow the tree from seed. There are lots of resources online [2] about how to grow the tree and the different species that are adapted to different climates. They can withstand draught, poor soil and come with no pests, though it is often seen harmless red shoulder bugs crawling around. Most sources say it takes about 10 years to bear fruit.
Once the tree has born fruit, these are collected and sun dried.
For laundry: add about 5 whole or broken fruit shells to a small cotton drawstring bag and add to the laundry. The bag of soapberries can simply be added in the washing machine or bowl for hand washing.
For hair/body washing, create a soapy mixture using the soapberries mixed with hot water and optional additives to add odour or for better preservation. Detailed recipes can be found online. [3] [4] Beware that the soapy foam stings if it gets into your eyes.
Basalt rock, molten at 1400°C, can be extruded into fibres which float on water, have high elasticity, and a tensile strength over twice that of steel.
Dongba paper is made from the Canescent wikstroemia using a traditional low energy process. Properties of this material include being strong, mothproof and resistant to decay.
Dongba paper is made from the Canescent wikstroemia using a traditional low energy process. Properties of this material include being strong, mothproof and resistant to decay.
Dongba paper is the name given to a paper upon which Dongba religious scriptures were inscribed by the Naxi ethnic group based in Northeast Yunnan, China.
Uses
The only known use is for paper. Nowadays the paper is predominantly sold as tourist memorabilia.
Potential Uses
We wonder what other applications this material could have given its durability and other properties. For instance, could it be used in bulk, not just as single flat sheets? perhaps moulded?
Processes
The Dongba paper is made from the Canescent wikstroemia (latin name Wikstroemia Sikokiana), locally known as asbestos bark or Yan leather. Canescent wikstroemia is a rare shrub (it is suspected that over-harvesting in the past made it rare) which normally grows on mountains with an altitude over 3,000 meters. It has resistant properties that make Dongba paper insect-proof and able to be preserved for a long time. The overall process for converting the raw material into a usable paper is lengthy and relatively complex, with a few additional ingredients required including hemp, shellac and shanhuo grass.
The bark of the tree is used, with the outer blackened skin removed. The bark is sun dried for at least half a day and then soaked in water for a few days (5 days suggested). As the bark becomes softer it is stirred into water which will turn black and smell. Care should be taken as the bark has toxic properties which can cause eyes and hands to itch and sting.
The bark mulch is then combined with a mixture of stove ash, hemp and shanhuo grass. For every 1kg of wikstroemia, 5 kg of stove ash, 50 g of hemp and 25 g of shanhuo grass are added. The additives are mixed in gradually. The mixture is then boiled in a large pot (7 to 8 kg per pot) for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. The boiled mixture will then turn yellowish.
[2] Stirring of the the plant materialThe mixture is then washed (traditionally in a nearby river). The aim is to get rid of as much of the stove ash as possible. The mixture is hit with a stick (or other implement) to soften it. Once sufficiently softened, small balls are made. Each pot should make at least 40 balls. By this point the material will become white.
The balls are placed on large stakes and beaten using a hammer. The pulp is rolled into fewer balls now, just four to five. These are then beaten some more with a hammer in a mortar with shellac for five minutes.
The penultimate phase involves evening out the paper using a mesh (traditionally bamboo mesh) and wooden frame. The mesh and frame is dipped in water and then the pulp placed on it and rubbed to even out the fibres. Any impurities should be removed at this point.
The pulp is then removed from the bamboo mesh and thinly applied [how thick] on a wooden board for drying out in the sun. Once the paper is half dried it is removed and then smoothed with a rounded stone (something similar to a rolling pin), as if flattening dough.
Soapwort is a plant that can be been used to make liquid soap; for body and fabric washing; simply by soaking or boiling the leaves or roots in water. Nowadays the soapwort is only used to clean antique tapestries.
Saponaria officinalis or 'soapwort', is a plant that can be been used to make liquid soap; for body and fabric washing; simply by soaking or boiling the leaves or roots in water. Nowadays the soapwort is only used to clean delicate fabrics such as antique tapestries.
Grows in cool places at low or moderate elevations in Europe and Asia.
Uses
Soap
Food emulsifier
Potential Uses
No new uses identified by authors. Your contributions welcome!
Processes
Take a large handful of leaves
Chop them
Boil for 30 minutes in 1 pint/600ml of water
Strain off the liquid and use this as you would washing-up liquid
