Material Explanation
Keratin Keratin is a family of
fi b r o u s s t r u c t u r a l
proteins. It is the key
structural material to
make hair, horn, claws,
hooves and outer layer
of human skin.
hydration (approximately F o u n d i n b i rd s a n d
Can self-assemble or be
cross linked to form
hydrogels.
It also van be found in
spider’s web.
Casien Casein is the name for a
How to make:
People have used milk
family of related
phosphoproteins. These
proteins are found in
milk.casein supplies
amino acids,
carbohydrates, and two
essential elements,
calcium and
phosphorus.
Natural plastic produces
by mixing full cream milk
and white vinegar in a
certain ratio.
Casein is usually used in
muscle building casein
pills, paint, glue, bags, ..
Collagen Collagen is the most
abundant protein in the
human body, found in the
bones, muscles, skin,
and tendons. Gelatine
reconstruction of bone
comes from a hydrolysed
collagen. It has many
medical uses in treating
complications of the
bones and skin.
Collagen is mostly used
in bio printing for tissue,
skin, bone regeneration.
Cellulose Based
polymer
Property Type Example Image
“Keratin is extremely Alpha-keratins: Using 3D Printed Rhino derived from a the cortex
insoluble in water and Found in hair, skin and Horns that is genetically of human hair.
organic solvents.The wool of mammals.They similar to Stop Poachers.
length of keratin fibres are fibrous and helical (Rogers, 2017)
depends on their water structure.
content: complete Beta-keratins:
16 percent water) reptiles. Consist of
increases their length by parallel sheets of
10 to 12 polypeptide chains
percent.”(Encyclopaedia
Britannica, 2017)
increased humidity
softens the keratin in the
feet hairs , allowing
Geckos to stick tighter to
surfaces.
It is hard and light
Casein is easy to make, Full cream milk 500mL and vinegar to make a
simple, light, hard, White vinegar 300mL (5% bio plastic that contains
cheap, Biodegradable, acidity) a high percent of casein.
non toxic, Soluble in 3 beakers (A, B, C)
water. However it dries Magnetic stirrer
slowly, it is fragile and Glass rod
high pH solution soluble.
Filter funnel
Casein melts in (280*C)
Filter paper
Thermometer
Collagen has a triple Collagen has 28 types. Collagen has been
helical structure that widely used in cosmetic
makes it a very strong surgery, as a healing aid
molecule therefore, it is for burn patients for
used in bone grafting.
and a wide variety of
Collagen is a natural dental, orthopedic, and
product, therefore it is surgical purposes.
used as a natural wound Collagen is a component
dressing.It is resistant of skin tissue therefore it
against bacteria, which is can benefit to wound
of vital importance in a healing process. It is also
wound dressing. It helps used in tissue
to keep the wound regeneration.
sterile, because of its
natural ability to fight 3D printing of calcium
infection. When collagen phosphate and collagen
is used as a burn for bone generation.
dressing, healthy
granulation tissue is able
to form very quickly over
the burn, helping it to
heal rapidly.
 Material Explanation
Lignin Lignin is n the cells, cell
walls and between the
cells of all vascular
plants. It is constitutive
starches.
of wood. Amount of
lignin in woods ranges
from 12% to 39%. Lignin
is the reinforcing
compound of tree that
make it strong. It has an
amorphous structure and
it makes wood pulp
brown.lignin is used in
plants to transform liquid
around.
Paua Shell Paua is a species of
abalone found only in
seas around New
Zealand, it is the most
colourful of all the
abalone shells, the
dominant blue/green
colours vary, with pink
to crimson and purple
tonings.
Hakareke Harakeke composite was
created to replace finer
glass in composite to
give them their stiffness
and strength.
composites.
Harakeke fibres comes
form New Zealand flax
Property
Lignin is the second most Lignin can be combined
abundant organic with Keratin or other
polymer on Earth behind proteins to create new
celluloses insoluble in bio based material.
water and alcohol, but
soluble in weak alkaline
solutions.
Metaphysical and
healing properties. In
Other countries they
convert para shells into
decorative veneers,
powders for cosmetics
and homeopathy
treatments. Beautiful
aesthetic property.
It has a rich colour and
aesthetic texture that
cannot be found in any
other mass produce fiber
Type Example Image
It has been used in
bioadhesive technology
with proteins and
It has been use to create
lignin fibres and carbon
fibres (low cost, light
weight) and carbon
nanofibers trough melt-
spinning and electrospun
techniques.
It can be used as
alternative raw materials
for plastics and bio-
based alternative to
petroleum.
The ArboSkin project:
Freeform facade to
demonstrate the
structural properties of a
new bioplastic developed
specially for use in the
construction industry.
The bioplastic used in
this project is produced
by combining  different
biopolymers such as
lignin with natural
r e i n f o r c i n g fi b r e s .
(Griffits, 2013)
3D printed bio-plastic
containing pāua shells,
as a technology
demonstrator for a value
added pāua biomass
side stream.
harakeke fibre surfboard
was created to
demonstrate that it is
possible to make a
water-resistant
composite material using
bio-materials and to
show the real life
application of scientific
research.
 Material Explanation Property Type Example Image

Mater-bi Mater-Bi® is a family of Mater-bi is compostable, If the disposables keep a

materials engineered to
adapt to the various
levels of performance
that the market
demands.
management, reduction
It is created trough a
combination of starches,
cellulose and vegetable
oils.
biodegradable it has plant seed in their body
high content of raw and they can be
material which allows foe decomposed, People will
organic waste make earth more green
by sticking ‘Vital Branch’
in environmental impact
and

Mater-Bi material can be

customised to respond
to many different human
demands from
agriculture to
m a n u f a c t u r i n g , f ro m
packaging to disposable
articles, to toys, various
accessories and bio
fillers.
‘Vital Branch’ is made of
Mater-Bi that is a corn
compound, can be
decayed by
microorganism 100
percent.

Reference:
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2017). Keratin, retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/science/keratin

Interesting Engineering. (2017). How One Tech Startup is Using 3D Printed Rhino Horns to Stop Poachers. Retrieved from https://interestingengineering.com/how-
one-tech-startup-is-using-3d-printed-rhino-horns-to-stop-poachers

Placone, J.K., Navarro, J., Laslo, G.W. et al. Ann Biomed Eng (2017) 45: 237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-016-1621-7

Design Boom, humidity makes gecko feet stickier Retrieved from: https://www.designboom.com/technology/humidity-makes-gecko-feet-stickier/

Griffits, A. (2013) ArboSkin pavilion made from bioplastic by ITKE. Rerieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/09/arboskin-spiky-pavilion-with-facademade-from-
bioplastics-by-itke/

Bill, C (2015). Biodegradable Casein-usage in 3D printing. Retrieved from: https://prezi.com/9f4kaceejx08/biodegradable-casein-usage-in-3d-printing/

Inzana, Olvera, Fuller, Kelly, Graeve, Schwarz, . . . Awad. (2014). 3D printing of composite calcium phosphate and collagen scaffolds for bone regeneration.
Biomaterials, 35(13), 4026-4034.
Díaz Nocera, A., Salvatierra, N., & Cid, M. (2015). Printing collagen 3D structures. IFMBE Proceedings, 49, 136-139.
https://www.designboom.com/project/vital-branch/