Self-moving
Materials and Artifacts
KISD
REACHING ACROSS TIME
K I S D
Long-term project
Design theory and research /
Interface Design
Self-moving materials and artifacts
Team:
Wei Yundi
Hyunji Lee
Rika Ishitsuka
REACHING ACROSS TIME Time There is nothing at this present. Things that we consider at present immediately become a part of the past. Thus, the way that we notice objects or emotion in “time” is always on the vestige of changing.
Crystallization is a process of material formation from a liquid to the structured solid crystals. The process contain an essential elements: time, that expand the 3d dimension of moving. It represents not only how the crystals catch up the present time but also how the material turns into the solid containing the past from the liquid status. And the solid seems reaching the time in permanent.
Thus, we set our research aim as visualizing time through crystallization. As using practice method prof suggested „research through design“, we settled different experiments.
We select urea as a main medium after an experiment comparing salt, alum, and urea. (NH2)2CO is the simple ion formula of Urea.
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Urea as the ion contains Lattice Energy1 inside. Urea gains thermal the energy and keep it inside as lattice energy via boiling. Dissolution expressing the dominant change via boiling water , though dissolution and crystallization are always present at the same time, contradiction and unity. Through cooling at room temperature, it release energy inside and crystal structure can be formed.
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This process, can be seen as the moving action via energy exchange between inside and outside of the substance —Urea, Process shifts urea from liquid to solid via from hot to cool of environment conditions we settled.
We set the different curved linear structure in our final work in order to show the unexpected and unmanageable process of crystallization in the regular precise man-made installation. Through the crystallization of urea in the arranged structure, you can follow the vestige of movement and see the spectrum of moments in the past.
1 An estimate of the strength of the bonds in an ionic compound can be obtained by measuring the lattice energy of the compound, which is the energy given off when oppositely charged ions in the gas phase come together to form a solid. http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch7/lattice.html
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„There is a saying around structural biologists, that protein crystallization is half art and half science. Like science, however, every art is not only based on talent but also on hard work and practice.“ -Dimitrios Evangelopous & Juan David Guzman
Materials 1 2 figure 1, Salt
figure 2, Alum
figure 3, Urea
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„Crystallizing is a chemical solid–liquid separation technique, in which mass transfer of a solute from the liquid solution to a pure solid crystalline phase occurs.2“
two main families of crystallization processes are identified, cooling crystallization and evaporative crystallization. Since our set Cold as our starting topic, we mainly focus on the process of cooling crystallization.
Crystallizing, in this sense, is the liquid-solid movement of material crystal via cooling. We selected urea as the target material via having experiments towards three kinds of crystals —Salt, Alum, Urea, which can be easy to get from pharmacy in our daily life. In order to having the dramatic expression of crystallization in a limit time, which can be visualize the process most and efficient. We set Time as the invariants, firstly boiling same amount of water as the mediate. Secondly put three materials separate into hot water to make saturation of salt, alum and urea. Then pour liquid into the same shot cup, cooling at room temperature.
Urea is the one we choose finally base on the results.(figure1,2,3), which the process is most efficient and have clear visualization of it.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystallization
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figure 4 Experiment 1
Experiment Crystallization as the whole process is non orientated movement. In this case, the media that in the process matters, which orientates the movement via sucking water contains in saturation. In this sense, we set different media as variable elements, probing the potential ability and expression of crystallization of urea.
At the same time, to make the process more efficient, we still trying to figure out how could we deal with it. Via research, finally, we have the formula
Saturation
figure 5 Hyperbolic Paraboloid Structure
SOAP
WHITE GLUE
Water+ Urea
Here the soap as the catalyst to accelerate crystallization from liquid to solid, and the glue making the final solid results more stable as a better condition.
Different results of experiment 1 can be seen in the photo brochure.
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Outcome Final exhibition contains three parts:
1, Final visual installation of 3-dimension regulated hyperbolic paraboloid structure made of no staining natural cotton fixed in the steel frame. Pour urea timing through the hole made on the roof of mental frame, creates chaotic intervention via crystallization into the regular structure(figure 5).
2, Process display contains experiment process installations and graphic results of the crystallization patterns in different dimension.
3, Outcome brochures Reaching Across Time of collections photos through whole projects and 2 videos, which one is the final results of crystallization via hyperbolic paraboloid structure and the other shows the team working process.
(Attachments are the videos and brochure.)
Feedback The final installation shows the solid results of the process and video and brochure as documents shows the process. As far as I conceded, we could improve the installation into more interact phase. Which not only show the results reminds people’ emotion and associate, like seeing the ruined building, but build a material visual installation shows process with timeliness. In this sense, we would research more practical methods to come to this aim.
Overall, this long-time project is interesting, for me the best part is learned the method „research through design“, which could help my further work.
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