A Potential for Porous Paperclay: Ceramic Water Filters
An Artist’s View of Sustainable Ceramic Art and Design in Developing Regions v. 1.0.7 Manufacture and Design Systems with Field Trials in Nicaragua
Initiative for Research 2011-2012 1.0.7 (Collection of Published Articles 2011-2012 in Ceramics Technical 2015) 51 Pages PDF ISBN 978-0-9825736-9-3
International Ceramic Symposium: Ceramic Art and Design for a Sustainable Society, sponsored by City of Gothenberg, Sweden. March 2011
Exhibit at Seattle Tacoma International Airport Concourse A, USA, 2012 The potential for porous ceramic paperclay to lower costs of domestic water filtration in developing countries is discussed, with an artist's view toward filters that are as easy to use, and to look at, as they are multi-purpose and eco-friendly. Will a change in burnout material in pot ceramic water filters save money if reclaimed paper pulp is mixed in the local clay instead of sawdust that was used in earlier models which had problems you can read about? A paperclay process has the potential to trim the production time and could, in due course, reduce airborne dusts, noise, power, and carbon fuel use. Also, a paperclay system allows ways to design and produce filters in developing regions that have not been technically feasible or practical with traditional ceramic.¿In 2006, at a Filtron factory in Nicaragua, paperclay water filter pots of local terra cotta clay and pulp from recycled Managua newspaper were tested in production. Best practices for ceramic filter manufacture in developing regions are discussed within the context of improvements that the paperclay methods have potential to offer.¿Ways that the pulp making reclaim process can be set up and complement the pot manufacture process are shown. Practical directions for further research, art, and design for a sustainable society will be discussed. Collection of Published Reports 2011-2012 51 pages PDF version 1.0.6 (2015 Reprint) ART045000 ART / CeramicsDES011000 DESIGN / Product TEC021000 TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Materials Science ART016000 ART / Individual Artists / Genera
Contains also display of early stage protoypes illustrate how village potters and handbulders with simple tools might create infinite variety of filters for villagers by hand. Formal materials analysis of at least of one local terra cotta base clay/reclaim pulp paperclay compound similar to that used in the tests described herein will bring-parameters/tolerances of wall thickness/ microbial into clear focus. Design/engineering of various styles of product prototypes will be practical with this data available. Benefits and lower cost of manufacture production and fuel saving with paperclay firing can ultimately be passed down to end users. Resources for study of ceramic paperclay and author bio.
