Pu-239/240-LANL-45-75: Engaging with Historical Plutonium Radiation Data

Fiona Bell
ACM TEI 2025
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As the HCI community continues to develop new materials for tangible interfaces, the way in which knowledge is disseminated has also expanded to more effectively communicate complex, embodied material experiences. Accordingly, we explore two goals in this pictorial: (1) to develop new sustainable biomaterials for 3D printing, thus extending the current library of materials for digital fabrication, and (2) to further the way the pictorial format is used to disseminate material knowledge by exploring alternative types of publications, specifically cookbooks. This cookbook discusses how to develop biomaterials for paste extrusion 3D printing by first introducing printability, usability, and sustainability as qualities that biomaterial recipes should strive to achieve. We then present ingredients, tools, and processes for working with biomaterials, followed by three exemplary biomaterial recipes made from sawdust, orange peels, and tree leaves. The cookbook closes with recommendations for adapting new biomaterials in the future.