From the head to the hand 

In this project, we looked at the question of whether mineral materials such as ceramics, plaster or concrete, which are normally cast, can be processed quickly and more cost-effectively by adding paper fibers using the pulp process. The hat serves as an illustrative object, as its function and wearing comfort are only limited in the hardened state. Nevertheless, we have designed a snack service in the shape of a hat to demonstrate a possible area of application. Combinations of paper and ceramic materials, known as paperclay, are already being used industrially. The paper fibers burn during sintering and leave a sponge-like structure in the ceramic. Our idea was to combine paper fibers as a carrier material with an initially liquid, then hardening and rigid material in order to be able to produce complex shapes more quickly and easily using the pulp process.

Material: Concrete with paper fibers
Unfortunately, we had to realize that experimenting with ceramics was not within our time frame due to the long drying and firing times. We therefore decided to use concrete as a substitute material, as it is easy to obtain and dries quickly. We tried out various mixing ratios between pulp and concrete and decided on a 1:1 ratio (concrete:pulp). Unlike what we expected from concrete as a material, the mold hardened porously. As a result, the hat broke during demolding. In retrospect, we consider concrete to be unsuitable, despite its good moldability in combination with paper fibers. The material did not convince us in terms of sustainability or strength. It remains to be seen whether ceramics can be produced using the pulp process with the support of paper fibers.