Composting, Combining, Laminating and Reforming

Question 1

Composting

Answer 1

• Composting can refer to any process that breaks down and reforms a material.
• It is typically used for organic materials like food scraps.
• Microorganisms break down the materials, creating a rich, dark soil amendment called compost.

Question 2

Material applications of composting

Answer 2

• Composting can be used to create bio-composites. By composting organic materials with certain polymers, we can create strong and lightweight building materials.

Question 3

Combining

Answer 3

• Physically mixing different materials to achieve desired properties.

Question 4

Material applications of combining

Answer 4

• Concrete combines cement, sand, and gravel to create a strong and durable building material.
• Fibreglass, where glass fibres are embedded in a plastic resin to create a lightweight and strong composite material used in boats and airplane parts.

Question 5

Laminating

Answer 5

• Layering thin sheets of different materials together, often with an adhesive in between to create stronger and more versatile materials.

Question 6

Material applications of laminating

Answer 6

• Plywood is made by laminating thin sheets of wood together with glue. This creates a stronger and more dimensionally stable material compared to solid wood.
• Laminated glass, which is much stronger and safer than regular glass when broken.

Question 7

Reforming

Answer 7

• Taking an existing material and changing its shape or structure through processes like melting, extrusion, or compression moulding.

Question 8

Material applications of reforming

Answer 8

• Recycled plastic bottles can be melted down and reformed into new plastic products like fleece jackets or building materials.
• Wood can be chipped, compressed, and bonded with adhesives to create composite wood products like MDF (medium-density fibreboard).

Question 9

What techniques are powerful when used together?

Answer 9

• Composted fibres and lamination:
  Composted plant fibres can be laminated with a resin to create lightweight and strong bio-composite panels for furniture or construction.
• Combining and reforming:
  Recycled plastic can be combined with wood fibres and then reformed through extrusion to create a composite material for decking or outdoor furniture.