Ancient Chemicals: A Journey Through Time (PCBs)
In a unique fusion of art, extreme DIY practice, and environmental consciousness, Patrícia J. Reis and Stefanie Wuschitz have embarked on an intriguing project: creating clay Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs).
The duo's video talk heavily emphasises the theoretical aspects of their work, delving into the process and the ideas behind it. However, the practical execution of the project presents its own set of challenges.
The tricky part of their project was creating the conductive traces on the clay PCBs. After experimenting with a variety of metals, they found that silver was the most suitable conductive material. Interestingly, they sourced their silver dust from a local supplier who repurposes waste dust from a jewelry factory.
The firing process, conducted over a campfire, is unreliable, leading to many cracks due to variations in thickness and temperature. Despite these challenges, the clay PCBs have a cool appearance, with the traces embossed with a 3D print and filled with silver.
The working demos of the clay PCBs were observed, and they indeed blinked, proving the functionality of their innovative approach. For the electronic components, they "urban mined" parts from junk bins, using ATmega328s from broken Arduino boards.
To facilitate their DIY project, they built a portable lab-in-a-backpack, making their experimental setup accessible and mobile. This experiment, while not practical for mass production, serves as an exploration of pre-industrial or post-apocalyptic Arduino ideas, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with minimal resources.
The clay PCB project makes traditional toner transfer techniques seem outdated, offering a fresh perspective on the art of creating PCBs. Mastering the art of creating clay PCBs requires experience, a skill that Patrícia J. Reis and Stefanie Wuschitz are undoubtedly honing with each successful experiment.
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