PORIFERA MOLLUSCA

bacterial nacre

Porifera mollusca combines the most significant characteristics of shellfish and sponges and creates synthetic nacre – a biomineral, consisting of about 95 percent calcium carbonate that is known to be 3000 x stronger than its inorganic components due to its composite structure involving about 5 percent of organic material. However, natural nacre grows into shell shapes that are not very useful to us.

Porifera mollusca is an effort to create a process in which structurally and aesthetically valuable nacre is produced by bacteria, in any desired volume or shape. During the process, pre-shaped fibre and porous sponge structures are covered with bacterial nacre resulting in lightweight, strong and graceful composite materials, that are compostable but still resistant to natural influences.

student:Tom Bade
project:microbes I
year:201617

material | technology | sustainability | design
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.