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Our group focused on creating and experimenting with an algae based bio-material. We used an algae called cladophora glomerata; an algae that can be easily found in the Baltic Sea since it tends to over-grow upon other species on coastal areas.

Our first idea was to create a 3D-printable material. We processed the algae in different ways: dried, bleached, made into a pulp, etc., to see how that would affect the result. However, when we tried to make a paste out of this algae, we found out that due to its long fibers, it was rather difficult to make it into a printable material. We weren’t able to break down its fibers with the equipment we had. We tried to use the differently processed algae, but the results didn’t really differ.

Because of this setback we tried a different approach and instead of trying to get rid of these fibers we focused on creating materials that would benefit from them. We wanted to experiment with different hardnesses, material feels, textures, opacities, and flexibility. We managed to create some hard “shell” type of material, paper and plastic-like materials. 

Now that we have all of these materials, the next step for the project would be finding purposes and ways for how these materials could be utilized. Eventually we would also face the question whether this material is actually capable of substituting others and how it could happen.