🧪 Velora Lab: Experiment Log

This page documents the iterative development of a starch-based biodegradable material through controlled experiments. Each version (V1–V4) represents a specific change in processing conditions and its effect on structure formation.

🧪 V1 Prototype

🔬 Observations

  • Thin, brittle film formed after drying
  • Uneven structure with weak cohesion
  • Breaks easily under minimal force
  • Localized rubber-like regions under compression

🧠 Summary

V1 represents the baseline material. It successfully forms a film but lacks structural stability and flexibility.

🧪 V2 Prototype

🔬 Observations

  • Continuous biodegradable film formed
  • Increased flexibility compared to V1
  • Can bend and fold without immediate failure
  • Tears under stronger force
  • Slight thickness inconsistency remains

📊 Performance Summary

  • Flexibility: High
  • Brittleness: Low
  • Uniformity: Medium
  • Strength: Medium-low

🧠 Summary

V2 improves flexibility and cohesion, but inconsistencies in thickness and drying remain.

🧪 V3 Prototype

🔬 Observations

  • More cohesive and stable sheet formation
  • Improved resistance to bending and deformation
  • Withstands light stress without breaking
  • Cracks only under strong force
  • Minor thickness variation still present

🧠 Summary

V3 shows improved structural integrity, behaving more like a flexible polymer film. However, uniformity and internal stress distribution are still limiting factors.

🧪 V4 Prototype

🔬 Observations

  • Thick, gel-like structure formed using a petri dish mold
  • Soft, rubber-like consistency with deformation under pressure
  • No residue on contact
  • Breaks under moderate force
  • More contained and shaped structure than earlier versions

🧠 Summary

V4 represents a transition from thin film behavior to bulk gel behavior. Shape control improved, but mechanical strength decreased due to internal structural instability.

🧠 Overall Insight

Across all versions, material changes were driven primarily by processing conditions rather than composition alone, including:

  • spreading consistency
  • thickness control
  • drying conditions
  • mold usage (e.g., petri dish in V4)

🔬 Key Takeaway

The progression from V1 to V4 demonstrates that processing conditions play a critical role in determining material structure and mechanical behavior, sometimes more than ingredient composition.