Shellon
(2021)
Case Study & Material Approached Design Concept
This case study examines how light-emitting smart materials might be used to solve an environmental problem.
The project, called Shellon (Shell+Crayon), is a set of phosphorescent crayons made from substantial amounts of oyster shell waste that’s found along the coast near Tongyeong, South Korea.
Shellon aims to reduce this waste by turning the substance into a new product, while also increasing public awareness of the problem itself.
Role
Case Researcher and Product Designer
Timeline
4 Weeks
Note
Project for RISD Catalyst SP21, supervised by Peter Yeadon.
Research & Investigations
What is happening in Tongyeong?
In South Korea, there is an intense demand for oysters.
Most oysters are produced in the southern coasts of Korea and apparently almost 300,000 tons of shell wastes are created every year.
Tongyeong, a city in the middle of the southern coast area, was responsible for more than half of the shell wastes.
Korean News Report on Tongyeong
Why is it a problem?
Personal Trip to Tongyeong
After researching about the situation, a personal visit was made to Tongyeong for further investigations and insights. A thorough tour around the city and interviews with the citizens took place.
Existing Solutions Spotted
In order to reduce the excessive amounts of oyster shell wastes, several factories were grinding the shells to utilize them as fertilizers for farms.
Even though the upcycling system seemed like a positive factor, it was impractical and not enough to raise public awareness.
Oyster Shell Grinding Factory in Tongyeong
Light-Emitting Smart Materials
What is Phosphorescence?
As a type of photoluminescence, phosphorescent materials reversibly emits visible light in response to absorbed light.
While not requiring any electricity, the degree of luminance and its longevity can vary depending on the level of excitation achieved from another light source.
Then, how is it made?
Phosphorescent materials are usually made with Zinc, Magnesium or Calcium Sulphide combined with alkaline earth metals. In order to mix the materials together, they are heated up until nearly 1000°C / 1832 °F.
The Potential
According to research, the oldest known reference to luminescent phosphors mentions how they were derived from the calcium of seashells and were used in ancient Chinese paintings.
A potential was spotted in the crushed oyster shells, which are mainly composed of calcium carbonate, that it could be mixed with sulfur and a minute amount of heavy metal (Copper, lead etc) to become a calcium sulfide phosphor.
The “Formula”
According pre-existing researches and experiments, in order for the oyster shells (CaCO3) to become phosphorescent, certain applications of heat and additions of other materials are needed.
The Shellon Concept
Possible Solution Discovered.
A potential was seen by connecting the studies of the case and the potential of the phosphorescent smart materials. It was to take an advantage of the phosphorescence of the the oyster shell waste and turning it into a new product (upcycling), while also increasing public awareness of the problem itself.
Ideations and Concept Development
The focus was on what to create with the phosphorescence created from the oyster shells. The idea of phosphorescent crayons was chosen because of its potential of increasing public awareness, while also providing education for children.
Concept Developments & Rapid Prototyping
The idea of phosphorescent crayons were chosen for further developments. Hand sketching and rapid 3D prototyping with clay was undertaken cohesively.
Final Model Visualization through CAD
To fully visualize the chosen concept, 3D modeling and rendering were utilized.
Shellon’s packaging informs users about the oyster shell waste problem, and the core idea of using waste as a resource is emphasized through a phosphorescent logo.
The phosphorescent pigment is mixed with paraffin wax and drops of essential oil. The color of the glow will depend upon which metal were used as dopants during the creation process.
Further Considerations
Possible Impact of Shellon
Shellon shows the wide-ranging impact that a photoluminescent smart material could have on one of the significant challenges of our time: managing waste and pollutants.
What’s Next?
Further investigations would be needed regarding safety and toxicity, although some glow-in-the-dark crayons are already available and approved for use.
For real productions, manufacturing techniques and availabilities would have to be further researched.