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Pitch

Creating one product completely without composites will dramatically reduce the recycling cost of current multi-material products.


Description

Summary

According to Janine Benyus’ theory of Biomimicry, it establishes whole environment of nature we live through few polymers, such as DNA, RNA, Fat, Carbohydrate and Protein, which is named the bio-manufacture process. This manufacture can build up a biological cycle, because this is a closed-loop. The natural materials are grown by fully biodegraded material. Therefore, it is easy to reabsorb into nature system. 

Comparing to nature, McDonough and Braungart, describe the mainly fields of industrial design and product design. Our manufacturing methods initially started with energy intensive mining, crushing, smelting, refining and forming. The process then frequently continues with other stages of protective coating and adhesives. This is a technical cycle and erodes our environment. 


What actions do you propose?

https://vimeo.com/131963631


http://www.ammoliao.com/#!blank/c1bul

In my definition of bio-manufacturing, it is basic on scientist Janine Benyus refers to this as “nature just use only 5 polymers, that are DNA, RNA, Protein, carbohydrate and fat, to create the earth. One materials can provide multiple function through different making tools, like injection melding, extrusion, 3D printer, weaving and knitting. As for this concept, it will provide an obvious benefit for product life cycle, because we offer a biomimicry characteristic of environmental responsiveness. We can enhance the recycling system. In the recycling system, it is clear that we should separate different materials into the same material container. In addition, we want to create most strongest and lightest materials or products, we usually accept the complex multiple materials, like carbon fiber and glasses fiber. At present, recycling industry only focus on precious metals, like old, silver, and platinum, because of cost reason. On the other hand, most recycling process should use human power to separate different materials, so this result increase the cost of recycling. 

My design proposes the balanced way of manufacturing between biological and technical cycle. This hypothesis is named “bio-knit” that one material can provide multiple functions by biomimicry. The first step, through the 3D-knit machine, it can design the different tension patterns to provide graded functional material and structure. The second step, heating press can melt the textile to make it stronger. Basic on material properties of thermoplastic, they can not only explore material potentials but also enhance the recycling system efficaciously. 


Who will take these actions?

First target is the shoes industry. There are 2 reasons. First of all, shoes include a variety of materials for one pair. They can not recycle unfortunately because of many components and resins. Only way becomes recovery energy. On the other hand, shoes’ factories erode our natural resources and bring remarkable contamination issues in to our living environment. 

For example, 330 million pairs of shoes are sold in the UK every year. A pair of shoes take over 50 years to decompose in a landfill and has 65 discrete parts and 360 making processes. This is not only a waste of natural resources but also a recycling issue our society should be aware of.

In addition, the sneakers is my one of application. For the reason,  on average, 330 million pairs of shoes find their way to peoples’ feet every year in the UK alone. unfortunately, with each new pair, another finds itself on the way to the landfill where it will take over 50 years — minimum — to decompose. due to the large amount of materials used in a contemporary pair of sneakers, as many as 65 in some cases, recycling is difficult and expensive. 

The second target will production line of multiple materials’ products, such as electronic products and furnitures. The application of BioKnit will provide multiple function without different materials. This will replace traditional making processes. Thus, this solution will enhance our cost and time of recycling system in the near future. 


Where will these actions be taken?

For example, 330 million pairs of shoes are sold in the UK every year. A pair of shoes take over 50 years to decompose in a landfill and has 65 discrete parts and 360 making processes. This is not only a waste of natural resources but also a recycling issue our society should be aware of. 

Over 70% of sneakers are produced from China and east south countries. It is a big issue of pollution for location people via resins, gas and material. 

Single material can provide multiple function via biomimicry. The first step is to develop the application into the industry production at present. The remarkable material samples can encourage the factories. Its cost will be reduced when the material become a mainstream in marketing. The target is to exchange most of existing production of complex products. As a result, it can boost our recycling industry and system in the near future. Secondly, in 2050, Plan Mars One, it will delivery 5 person to Mars. This is an space travel and explore unknown plant. The delivery cost is dramatic and the spaceship’s space is limited. Thus, single material and simple production line can not only reduce space of delivery but also provide graded functioned material for space explore.


What are other key benefits?

Through textile biomimicry, single material can provide multiple functions, simultaneously displaying soft, flexible and robust textures. Creating one product completely without composites will dramatically reduce the recycling cost of current multi-material products.  

This will dramatically reduce the recycling cost of current multi-material products. 

This multi-functional single material can efficiently boost our recycling industry without relying on a separation process. Its obvious benefits in the recycling cycle include:

1. conserving natural resources  

2. enhancing the sustainability of landfill

3. saving energy and reducing greenhouse gases and the resulting pollution 

4. reducing the cost of recycling processes


What are the proposal’s costs?

$400,000 for 3D Knit machine and woven machine. We need the both machine to develop BioKnit materials samples. 

$8,000 for 3D printer and laser cutting.

$10,000 for the soft ware development. We need soft ware engineers,material scientists and chemical engineers  to help BioKnit. We should research the definition of BioKnit, include materials of yarn, knitting pattern and  manufacturers.  0,000 for the soft ware development. We need soft ware engineers,material scientists and chemical engineers  to help BioKnit. We should research the definition of BioKnit, include materials of yarn, knitting pattern and  manufacturers.  

$10,000 for materials of yarn. 0,000 for materials of yarn. 

Experiment Structure

Through my hypothesis, the we can change the thickness to provide different material properties among soft, flexible and strong. The 3d models are 0.4mm 0.8mm and 1.2mm. There are the graded functional materials. The knitting patterns have many different patterns to have different flexible characteristic. The material property of patterns are not only  graded flexible level but also multiple functions. Comparing the Knitting pattern. Weaving pattern can not only use one process to develop different potentials of material. Thus, Knitting machine will be one my design development. 

Design development

Through 3d knitting machine, we can design three-dimensional textiles. We can design complex patterns for one fabric via 3d knitting machine and program. Thus,  the first step is define the pattern of material properties. The second step is to extra our manufacture process, such as heat press, 3d printer and laser engraving. 


Time line

5 years by 2020: BioKnit apply for sneaks industry and cooperate with Nike

10 years by 2025: BioKnit will apply for production line. One material can replace the multiple components' products to boots recycling system.

15 years by 2030: BioKnit can knit complex form and surface to build architectures.

The future plan: We can use one material to build stuffs up via different temperature and density. As for this result, it will bring advantages when we explore space with less materials.   

Single material can provide multiple function via biomimicry. The first step is to develop the application into the industry production at present. The remarkable material samples can encourage the factories. Its cost will be reduced when the material become a mainstream in marketing. The target is to exchange most of existing production of complex products. As a result, it can boost our recycling industry and system in the near future. Secondly, in 2050, Plan Mars One, it will delivery 5 person to Mars. This is an space travel and explore unknown plant. The delivery cost is dramatic and the spaceship’s space is limited. Thus, single material and simple production line can not only reduce space of delivery but also provide graded functioned material for space explore.


Related proposals


References

[01] TheGreat Recovery

http://www.greatrecovery.org.uk/about-us/

[02] Behance

https://www.behance.net/gallery/7076393/BIOMIMICRY-Bees-Hive-Honeycomb

[03] stacknit

http://stacknit.blogspot.tw/2010/08/wool-thread-and-resin-experiments.html

[04] Sophie Zajicek

http://www.sophiezajicek.com/h5in9q83igojnx37ry36qec4tifced

[05] Self Assembly Lab

http://www.selfassemblylab.net/

[06] The Economist 2007

http://www.economist.com/node/9249262

[07] Biomimicry by Janine M Benyus

[08] Material Matters New Materials in Design

[09] Bio Design by William Myers

[10] Biomimicry in Architecture by Michael Pawlyn

[11] Cradle to Cradle by Michael Braungart