Agar and alginate are ingredients derived from seaweed and agar is a common stand in for gelatin as a vegan alternative in biomaterial recipes. Agar, alginate, and wood-ash can all be ordered online. Glycerine can be found with the moisturizers at a pharmacy. The following recipe is based on an agar bioplastic composite recipe.
Ingredients:
—Agar 15ml
—Alginate 5ml
—Water 200ml
—Wood ash 70 grams (about ½ cup)
—Glycerol 5ml
Method:
—Mix the ingredients together in a pot (*please do NOT use a pot you will later use for food!)
—Set the heat level of medium low and boil until the liquid gets sticky and thick
—Pour the liquid in a prepared mold
—Allow to dry (6-7 days)
Note:
For the ball pictured here, the mixture was allowed to dry in the tray (a day or two) until just sticky, rolled into the final shape, and then allowed to finish drying.
https://naturelab.risd.edu/discover/biomaterials-you-can-make-at-home
