Il video girato dentro la nostra installazione, attraversando la quale si può sperimentare quello che un delfino o una balena provano nuotando in un mare di spazzatura:
E il video che mostra com'è fatto il Tetrapak, da noi sottoposto ad "autopsia". Abbiamo cercato di simulare il processo industriale di riciclo:
Il lavoro che il gruppo propone al PLASTIC IS FOREVER INTERNATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT, MARCH 11-13 2011.
PLASTILAB. EXPERIMENTS, MODELS AND AN INSTALLATION TO KNOW PROPERTIES AND PROBLEMS OF THE PLASTIC MATERIALS
Ivan Andreoni, Erik Briga, Giovanna Garavaglia, Fabio Hu, Artur Kuvila, Federico Romano, Rosi Braga
Scuola Media Statale “E. Breda”, V. L. da Vinci 100 - 20099 Sesto San Giovanni (Milano) – Italy
INTRODUCTION
We are a group of six students aged fourteen attending the last year of the First Level Secondary School. The group, under the supervision of the teacher Rosi Braga, studied plastic materials.
The first lessons were about the mechanichal properties of plastic materials and their classification and use. We tried to understand the success of these materials and the enviromental problems caused by their unrestricted diffusion by means of:
- searches in the internet
- tests about the degradability of plastic waste and the recycle processes
During our research we discovered the Trash Vortex of the Pacific Ocean and the Algalita Foundation. We read in Algalita and Plasticsareforever websites about the 260 species of sealife menaced and entangled in plastic.
To share the collected informations and the results of the tests about degradability we are publishing photos and videos in the scholastic blog and organizing an exhibition at school. Moreover we decided to make an interactive installation whose goal is involving the audience to experience the enviromental disaster and the animals suffering.
EXPERIMENT 1
DEGRADABILITY OF SOME MATERIALS
MATERIALS: paper, paperboard, Mater-Bi, polypropylene, polyethylene (LDPE)
EXPERIMENTAL: we cut pieces (equal dimensions) of the materials and buried them in the school garden. After six weeks (under natural weather conditions) we dug the pieces out.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Only paper and paperboard were completely decomposed.
For Mater-Bi, we are testing the degradability in a compost pile. Work is in progress.
EXPERIMENT 2
A MODEL FOR BRANCHED POLYMERS
In polymers chemistry, branching occurs when there are chains bound to the main chain of the molecule. There are many degrees of branching. For example, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has a very low degree of branching, and is quite stiff, while low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has significant numbers of both long and short branches and is quite flexible. How branching affects density?
MATERIALS: branches of trees collected in the garden of the school.
EXPERIMENTAL: we divided the material in two group: 1- we cut all the lateral branches from the main branch; 2- we left all the lateral branches. Then we tried to make a bundle.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the first case, the bundle was compact (high density); in the second one, the bundle was not much compact, and it was difficult to push the branches together (low density).
We can say that a lot of lateral branches means low density material.
EXPERIMENT 3
TETRAPAK: AUTOPSY OF A CARTON OF MILK
MATERIALS: a carton of milk, scissors, tweezers
EXPERIMENTAL: we cut the carton and separated the layers of the tetrapak (paperboard, plastic, aluminium foil).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
We verified the structure of a package in order to test the following experiment (6)
EXPERIMENT 4
RECYCLING TETRAPAK
PURPOSE: we know that Tetrapak can be recycled and we want to verify the industrial process.
MATERIALS: a carton of milk, scissors, water, becker.
EXPERIMENTAL: we cut the carton and put into water the pieces.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
After a week we tried to separate the layers. Paperboard could be easily separated from the other layers.
5- A MODEL FOR THE TRASH VORTEX OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN
PURPOSE
The model helps to understand what is the Trash Vortex.
MATERIALS: pieces of coloured plastic, water, oil, a bottle.
EXPERIMENTAL: we put the pieces in the bottle with oil and water.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: the effect of a great quantity of rubbish in the water can be observed.
6- A MODEL FOR THE TRASH VORTEX OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. INTERACTIVE INSTALLATION.
PURPOSE
The model helps to understand what is the Trash Vortex involving the audience to experience the enviromental disaster and the animals suffering.
MATERIALS: pieces of plastic, strings, containers, plastic bags.
EXPERIMENTAL: we bound pieces, containers and plastic bag. We hung them across the Laboratory in order to create a forced path. We shot and edited some videos while crossing the plastic waste.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: the unpleasant effect to walk across a great quantity of waste like animals do can be experienced.
We are a group of six students aged fourteen attending the last year of the First Level Secondary School. The group, under the supervision of the teacher Rosi Braga, studied plastic materials.
The first lessons were about the mechanichal properties of plastic materials and their classification and use. We tried to understand the success of these materials and the enviromental problems caused by their unrestricted diffusion by means of:
- searches in the internet
- tests about the degradability of plastic waste and the recycle processes
During our research we discovered the Trash Vortex of the Pacific Ocean and the Algalita Foundation. We read in Algalita and Plasticsareforever websites about the 260 species of sealife menaced and entangled in plastic.
To share the collected informations and the results of the tests about degradability we are publishing photos and videos in the scholastic blog and organizing an exhibition at school. Moreover we decided to make an interactive installation whose goal is involving the audience to experience the enviromental disaster and the animals suffering.
EXPERIMENT 1
DEGRADABILITY OF SOME MATERIALS
MATERIALS: paper, paperboard, Mater-Bi, polypropylene, polyethylene (LDPE)
EXPERIMENTAL: we cut pieces (equal dimensions) of the materials and buried them in the school garden. After six weeks (under natural weather conditions) we dug the pieces out.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Only paper and paperboard were completely decomposed.
For Mater-Bi, we are testing the degradability in a compost pile. Work is in progress.
EXPERIMENT 2
A MODEL FOR BRANCHED POLYMERS
In polymers chemistry, branching occurs when there are chains bound to the main chain of the molecule. There are many degrees of branching. For example, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has a very low degree of branching, and is quite stiff, while low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has significant numbers of both long and short branches and is quite flexible. How branching affects density?
MATERIALS: branches of trees collected in the garden of the school.
EXPERIMENTAL: we divided the material in two group: 1- we cut all the lateral branches from the main branch; 2- we left all the lateral branches. Then we tried to make a bundle.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the first case, the bundle was compact (high density); in the second one, the bundle was not much compact, and it was difficult to push the branches together (low density).
We can say that a lot of lateral branches means low density material.
EXPERIMENT 3
TETRAPAK: AUTOPSY OF A CARTON OF MILK
MATERIALS: a carton of milk, scissors, tweezers
EXPERIMENTAL: we cut the carton and separated the layers of the tetrapak (paperboard, plastic, aluminium foil).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
We verified the structure of a package in order to test the following experiment (6)
EXPERIMENT 4
RECYCLING TETRAPAK
PURPOSE: we know that Tetrapak can be recycled and we want to verify the industrial process.
MATERIALS: a carton of milk, scissors, water, becker.
EXPERIMENTAL: we cut the carton and put into water the pieces.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
After a week we tried to separate the layers. Paperboard could be easily separated from the other layers.
5- A MODEL FOR THE TRASH VORTEX OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN
PURPOSE
The model helps to understand what is the Trash Vortex.
MATERIALS: pieces of coloured plastic, water, oil, a bottle.
EXPERIMENTAL: we put the pieces in the bottle with oil and water.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: the effect of a great quantity of rubbish in the water can be observed.
6- A MODEL FOR THE TRASH VORTEX OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. INTERACTIVE INSTALLATION.
PURPOSE
The model helps to understand what is the Trash Vortex involving the audience to experience the enviromental disaster and the animals suffering.
MATERIALS: pieces of plastic, strings, containers, plastic bags.
EXPERIMENTAL: we bound pieces, containers and plastic bag. We hung them across the Laboratory in order to create a forced path. We shot and edited some videos while crossing the plastic waste.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: the unpleasant effect to walk across a great quantity of waste like animals do can be experienced.
