D'Gray Glove

D'GRAY GLOVE

With so many people around the world using gloves for household and industry work. Which results in a huge pile up of non-recyclable personal protective “glove” material in landfills, water bodies and dumpsters each day. This project aimed to develop an innovative, forward thinking biodegradable biomaterial product that reduces the amount of pollution the glove industry causes, by using natural dyes, binding agents and an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. My product was heavily inspired by the misuse and over usage of gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic especially non-recyclable materials like gloves. It was also greatly influenced by the ingredients that Loubser Meyers used in his Squid seal, 2019.

This project is so important to slow down the rate of Global Warming, and limit the amount of non-renewable resources we are rapidly taking from our environment. Now, with the D’Gray Glove, users will be using protective equipment that not only protects them. But curbs climate change as its an 80% natural material from organic produce.

Project Development

PRECEDENT BOARDS

Through a cyclical process of meticulous research on different types of organic products that are all sustainable. This precedent board demonstrates the vast range of sustainable materials and mediums that can replace PPE materials.

After conducting all my research, I made a Personal Protective board demonstrating all types of PPE used especially within the workshop environment. This research explores what PPE is, the different classification categories along with the environmental impacts of the textile industry that makes PPE. These boards allowed me to identity the different materials used in each PPE item. This is important so that I can replace this unsustainable material with an organic and sustainable material.

MATERIAL EXPLORATION

With more than 8000 synthetic chemicals being used for the production of PPE items that end up being washed into water bodies and increasing pollution. I explored different colour dye methods along with alternative sustainable materials as seen in the explorative phase.

BIO PLASTIC: PHASE 1 AND 2

I decided to explore with different types of pectin as it is a water-soluble fiber derived from non-animal byproducts. Through research I found that pectin can be a very good setting and binding agent that has vast applications and uses. I experimented with pectin to further my understanding of biomaterials. In this section of phase 1, I explored multiple decorative elements to try create a more appealing product and ways to go about it. However, none where to my liking and satisfaction. Phase 1 consists of a compilation of how I started with a few ingredients and then added more for phase 2.

GLOVE ATTEMPT: 1

With the experiments I had conducted and tried, I decided to see whether the bioplastic material I made was good enough. Once I tested the material out, I found that layered unevenly, lumpy and remained very moist on the inside of the glove.

BIO PLASTIC: PHASE 4

Compilation of refined and further developed bioplastic that I made. After the failed first glove attempt, I looked into developing my material. This was where I found inspiration from Loubser Meyer’s project called Squid for a container seal made of biomaterials. I tested his idea and ran with it. I tweaked it here and there and that was how I found my biomaterial by developing his idea and adding far more agar agar, I think developed his recipe further by adding 3 different types of pectin as I found that this was stronger. My ratios changed until I found the perfect materials as seen as #23.

GLOVE ATTEMPT: 2

After rigorously experimenting and refining my material, I found the right one. I then decided to experiment and try it out. I made the second glove attempt; in which this is the direction I want to go. I love the texture, its rubbery, feels like leather, it dries fully and doesn’t feel moist, uncomfortable or hard. I tested it out in two mediums that I thought mattered most for a glove, water and heat. Which the D’Gray glove at this point proves to be both water and heat resistant.

CONCEPT DIRECTION

After successfully finding the right material, I found a purpose for the material and the direction in which I would like to take the D’Gray glove.

CONCEPT BEFORE FEEDBACK

At this point of the project I was set on using my sustainable biomaterial for the production of surgical gloves as I felt like this was the industry, I wanted my glove to be sold in. I technically analyzed other similar products such as nitrile and latex gloves and the list of problems they cause to the environment. As well as I started the conceptualization phase, of drawing and creating the image of the glove. There is very little detail that can go into a surgical glove as it needs to be smooth, light and has many other specifications. However, the one design element within the Surgical D’Gray Glove would be the seeds embedded inside the glove.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

HOW TO MANUFACTURE THE D'GRAY GLOVE

At the top of my head I felt that making a mould is definitely how I want to make this product and then using a slip casting process would work well to achieve the hollow shape I’d need for the gloves.

RENDERS

This is how the gloves will be used. It’s easy to see how big and how well the material works for the environment it is in.

ENGINEERING ASPECT OF THE D'GRAY GLOVE

The engineering aspect of the glove is very import to see how the glove is made, the dimensions, size, colours and it also allows for any errors to be solved before manufacture.

FINAL CONCEPT AFTER FEEDBACK

From the feedback I’ve received. I thought it would be fitting to go back to researching and start research again and then take it from there. I researched based on the critiques I was given and looked into focusing on work gloves. This venture was necessary as it allows for allowance in the thickness of the product and as a hard-wearing glove as opposed to flexible gloves that have specific specification that may not have been ideal for the manufacture of the D’Gray glove. I continued to research on 2 different work gloves for a better understanding.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

HOW TO MANUFACTURE THE D'GRAY GLOVE

The manufacturing process in this developed and refined concept is very similar to the first concept except that instead of slip casting the glove like in the first concept. In this concept, the hand will be solid casted and then dipped into a mixture of my biomaterial.

D'GRAY GLOVES - REFINED PRODUCT

The next few boards explain and demonstrate why the concept change was better as well as they explain more information about the refined D’Gray glove, how it’s taken off, a product breakdown and more.