Which type of carrageenan?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:32 pm
Hi Everyone,
I'm attempting to learn to marble with carrageenan and acrylic colours. I'm having trouble with the size, though, I think... I'm following instructions that I've read a few times online and in books: 2 tbsp + 2 tsp per gallon of water, blend, leave until the bubbles have gone. I've bought two different batches of carrageenan, but neither of them seem right; or, perhaps I'm doing something else wrong.
The first batch was labelled 'Kappa Carrageenan'. It looked OK when I made the size. It dissolved nicely, and seemed to have a good consistency. It was odourless and completely white powder, becoming completely clear after dissolving. I wiped down my paper with a sponge soaked in 10% potassium aluminium sulphate and allowed it to dry until damp, but not dry. The paint floated, the patterns formed, and when I picked up the sheet it looked good. However, it seems that the carrageenan formed a thick, quite tough layer on the surface of the paper. It couldn't be washed or even rubbed off easily. If it was washed with sufficient force to remove the carrageenan, the paint was also removed.
The second batch was simply labelled 'Carrageenan' and it was a grey powdered that smelled strongly of the sea. I assume this is simply the whole washed seaweed, dried and powdered. When I made it up as above, it did not dissolve at all... it just sank to the bottom. I boiled it briefly and it partially dissolved, but lots of 'stuff' settled to the bottom. When boiled, it smelled so strongly of the ocean that I don't think I could stand to use it. When it cooled, it formed a completely solid chunk in my pot (I had to cut it up with a knife to get rid of it).
I've read in a few places that when purified carrageenan is used, it needs to be 'iota-carrageenan'... I can only find this in small quantities and it is incredibly expensive (compared to the two I mentioned above). Does anyone have any feedback about it?
Thanks.
I'm attempting to learn to marble with carrageenan and acrylic colours. I'm having trouble with the size, though, I think... I'm following instructions that I've read a few times online and in books: 2 tbsp + 2 tsp per gallon of water, blend, leave until the bubbles have gone. I've bought two different batches of carrageenan, but neither of them seem right; or, perhaps I'm doing something else wrong.
The first batch was labelled 'Kappa Carrageenan'. It looked OK when I made the size. It dissolved nicely, and seemed to have a good consistency. It was odourless and completely white powder, becoming completely clear after dissolving. I wiped down my paper with a sponge soaked in 10% potassium aluminium sulphate and allowed it to dry until damp, but not dry. The paint floated, the patterns formed, and when I picked up the sheet it looked good. However, it seems that the carrageenan formed a thick, quite tough layer on the surface of the paper. It couldn't be washed or even rubbed off easily. If it was washed with sufficient force to remove the carrageenan, the paint was also removed.
The second batch was simply labelled 'Carrageenan' and it was a grey powdered that smelled strongly of the sea. I assume this is simply the whole washed seaweed, dried and powdered. When I made it up as above, it did not dissolve at all... it just sank to the bottom. I boiled it briefly and it partially dissolved, but lots of 'stuff' settled to the bottom. When boiled, it smelled so strongly of the ocean that I don't think I could stand to use it. When it cooled, it formed a completely solid chunk in my pot (I had to cut it up with a knife to get rid of it).
I've read in a few places that when purified carrageenan is used, it needs to be 'iota-carrageenan'... I can only find this in small quantities and it is incredibly expensive (compared to the two I mentioned above). Does anyone have any feedback about it?
Thanks.