Remember Han Solo frozen in Carbonite from Star Wars? That is basically what the plastic tiles I made for the upcoming Hall of Human Life exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science resemble.

Using products from Smooth-On Inc., I mixed up Alginate, a material derived from seaweed, poured it into a containment box, had models place their clean feet in for an impression, and then poured liquid plastic resin into the negative form to create each of the 50 tiles.
Here I am pouring Smooth-Cast 300Q liquid urethane plastic. I had to act quickly because the chemical reaction takes place so quickly, once the two components are mixed together I have less than a minute before it sets.

Read More