INK OUT OF TEA BAGS

(investigatory project in science)

INTRODUCTION

Tea is created by using the leaves of a plant known as Camellis sinensis. This plant is a native to China, South Asia and Southeast Asia but is now found all over the world. Tea-drinking can be traced back to the 10th century BC in China before it was spread to Korea and Japan.

But in1903, the creation of the first tea bags were recorded. It was then in 1904 that these were shipped around the world and they are infact still used until now. They are not only cheaper, but also they are easier to find and to use in making tea. The reason for their more affordable price compared to loose tea leaves is bacause most companies use fannings or the left-overs of larger tea leaves after they are gathered to be sold.

Basically, this drink is made by brewing tea leaves to create an extract. Due to the chlorophylls and other pigments in the leaves, the extract commonly appears with a brown color. In www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/7H .html, it was mentioned that theaflavin is the reddish-brown pigment found in tea. It is an example of a flavonoid which acts to create color.

This research is being done to find out the potency of the extract of the leaves from the the plant Camellis sinensis as an ink. Nowadays, ink is a pigment in a liquid or paste form used as colorants and dyes. Also, they are becoming more and more expensive because of their increasing purposes. Our research aims to produce this ink as a cheaper alternative to those commercial ones. Compared to the ink we are aiming to create, commercially produced inks are toxic and can be hazardous to a person's health once there is inappropriate contact with it. To match with the color and consistency of other inks, we will be adding other substances, specifically vinegar and cornstarch, which are common and easy to find.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMGenerally, this investigatory project aims to find out if tea bags can be used to create an ink. Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:a. Can vinegar strengthen the color of the product, ink?b. Can cornstarch contribute to achieving the right consistency of the ink?c. Are the processes boiling and straining efficient in taking the extract out of the tea bags?

HYPOTHESESExtracts taken from tea bags have the potential to be made into an ink.

If vinegar and cornstarch are added to the mixture, then the product would have a stronger color and a thicker consistency than that with none.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This investigatory project will benefit us by producing an alternative for other inks. These other manufactured inks nowadays come quite expensive prices, but since the materials to be used in our project are common and easy to find, you will be spending less money. Also, no harmful chemicals will be used in making our ink. Therefore, it is non-toxic compared to commercially sold inks which have the tendencies of causing harm to one's health and to the environment.

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONSOur research and experiments are only limited to making a simple ink as a colorant. It does not include inks that are used in machines such as printers, copiers, etc. Also, our study includes the effects of vinegar and cornstarch on the product. To have accurate observations, we will be creating two set-ups: an ink without vinegar and cornstarch and one with vinegar and cornstarch.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATUREThe history of Chinese inks can be traced back to the 18th century BC, with the utilization of natural plant (plant dyes), animal, and mineral inks based on such materials as graphite that were ground with water and applied with ink brushes. Evidence for the earliest Chinese inks, similar to modern ink sticks, is around 256 BC in the end of the Warring States Period and produced from soot and animal glue. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ink)

The India ink used in ancient India since at least the 4th century BC was called masi, and was made of burnt bones, tar, pitch, and other substances. Indian documents written in Kharosthi with ink have been unearthed in Chinese Turkestan. The practice of writing with ink and a sharp pointed needle was common in early South India. Several Jain sutras in India were compiled in ink.

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ink)

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is well known as the source of a truly brilliant if rather fugitive yellow and there is evidence of its use, both as a colorant and medicine, in the Greek and Persian civilizations of the same period. (Cannon, 1995)

Pliny, in his “Historia Naturalis”, speaks of vegetable dyeing in Egypt during Roman times (Ciba Review, 1938) and it is thought that these people could have learned their craft from India, where textile dyeing had reached a position of preeminence. Indian skill in vegetable dyeing and painting reached a high point in the two centuries from 1600 to 1800 AD, when the painting and resist dyeing of cotton cloth known to us as Chintz became the basis of the largest trade in textiles that the world had ever seen. (Irwin and Brett,1970)

In Mediaeval and renaissance Europe treatises and manuals on the preparation of artists colours contain many references to plant colours, one such being Cennini’s, ‘Il Libro dell’ Arte’ of 1437, in which he sets out recipes for the preparation of block-printing inks from saffron and brazilwood (Caesalpinia sp.) The Strasbourg manuscript, of an earlier period, also describes the use of a whole range of plants used in the manufacture of inks and water-colours. Later we see developments in vegetable block-printing inks in 17th and 18th century Japan where it is interesting to note that some colours were actually leached from previously dyed cloth. (Strange,1924) (source:http://www.artmondo.net/printworks/articles/ growink2.htm)

It's interesting to note that with all the attention given today to the health benefits of tea, this wonderful plant began in China not as a beverage, but as a medicinal herb. Have we come full circle? Early historical accounts of tea are unclear, for the Chinese character for tea had not been standardized, and several other Chinese characters appear in books referring very likely to the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, what we now call tea. (source: http://www.indigotea.com/chinateahistory.shtml)

Flavonoids are the yellow plant pigments seen most notably in lemons, oranges, and grapefruit. The name stems from the Latin word "flavus," which means yellow. Flavonoids in flowers and fruit provide visual cues for animal pollinators and seed dispersers to locate their targets. Flavonoids are located in the cytoplasm and plastids. Many of the foods that we eat, including dark chocolate, strawberries, blueberries, cinnamon, pecans, walnuts, grapes, and cabbage, contain flavonoids. These chemicals lower cholesterol levels, and many have antioxidant properties. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, and the reddish-brown pigment theaflavin found in tea, act to create color, while most other flavonoids are visible only under UV light.(source:http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/7H.html)

Theaflavin (TF) and its derivatives, known collectively as theaflavins, are antioxidantpol-yphenols that are formed from flavan-3-ols such as in tea leaves during the enzymatic oxidation (called fermentation by the tea trade) of tea leaves, such as in black tea. Theaflavins are types of thearubigins, and are therefore reddish in color. Analogous compounds include EGCG in green tea; theaflavins are not found in green tea. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theaflavin)

“Extraction is very simple, and a few basic rules quickly become apparent. I started by soaking plant material, then simmering or boiling it to release the colour. Boiling is not always advisable, particularly with reds, as some tend to become more brown or even disappear when boiled. Thus if you know that a certain plant should produce red then my advice would be not to heat above 800 C. until you’re sure it won’t spoil the resultant colour. Most plants do in fact produce some colour especially in soft, or artificially softened water (by adding washing soda, Sc), but many are simply too dull, weak or uneconomic to persist with.”(source: http://www.artmondo.net/printworks/articles/grow ink4.htm)

Tea dyeing is an easy way to mute fabrics or give them an older, antiqued look. Tea stains the fibers and gives a semi-permanent dull brown "dirty" tone to the whole piece. It is used when you want to "antique" a craft textile such as a doll dress or small quilt.Because the process uses tea bags it is not suggested for use on large objects. Tea also leaves an irregular spotted stain over the whole piece and it is not going to give you a "perfect" or even color. If you want to color large objects or get an even tone, use a commercial dye product. (source: http://www.redda wn.net/quilt/teadye.htm)

Though we first introduced you to artist Carne Griffiths by showing you his incredibly interesting lightbox pieces, he's actually known for his beautiful paintings that are made with ink and tea. As he tells us, "I work in an unusual medium, I draw in calligraphy ink and use various types of tea to blend the lines - then I repeat the process - layering the work. In the studio I have a host of different flavored teas.. chamomile, vanilla and honey, chai, earl grey, fennel, green tea...you get the idea."

(source:http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/portra its-dripping-with-ink-and-tea)

Griffiths uses the medium of tea and ink (sometimes graphite, vodka, whiskey, and others) to create these pieces.Tea and ink as a medium has become a trademark for Griffiths in the art world. While unique on its own, tea has helped him develop a palette of colors that he is comfortable with. It goes without saying that Griffith’s work has a distinct feel. The tea provides a delicate saturation and texture that draws viewers in.(source: http://www.nonsensesocie ty.com/2011/12/carne-griffiths/)

http://www.nonsensesociety.com/2011/12/carne-griffiths/

METHODOLOGY

SET-UP A

MATERIALS

7 teabags1 1/2 cups of water1 tablespoon of vinegarcornstarch

PROCEDUREPlace the 7 teabags in 1 ½ cups

of boiling water.

Create the tea for 6-8 minutes.

Remove the teabags from the boiling water. Use a strainer and a fork to remove all of the extracts.

While stirring the tea, add a tablespoon of vinegar.

Continue to stir it. Add as much dissolved cornstarch as you need to have your desired consistency.

Remove it from the heat and let it cool. When done, store in a bottle.

SET-UP B

MATERIALS7 teabags1 1/2 cups of water

PROCEDUREPlace the 7 teabags in 1 ½ cups

of boiling water.

Create the tea for 6-8 minutes.

Remove the teabags from the boiling water. Use a strainer and a fork to remove all of the extracts.

Remove it from the heat and let it cool. When done, store in a bottle.

FINDINGSDuring the procedure itself, we have observed that boiling is an effective process of extraction. Right after we have placed the teabags in the boiling water, the change of color is very noticeable. During this step the mixture had a very strong smell from the tea. While following the procedures for set-up A which included the placing of vinegar, there was no immediate change in color as we expected. Instead, the vinegar’s effect was seen when we tried to paint the two inks on paper. While applying the ink on paper, it was harder to use ink B because it’s consistency was very watery. Thus it became runny and scattered unlike in ink A.

After letting them dry, it was seen that ink A had a darker color while ink B’s writings faded.

ANALYSIS OF DATAOur hypothesis which states that tea bags have the potential to be made into an ink if vinegar and cornstarch is added is proven correct. We had two setups which were Setup A that has vinegar and Setup B that has no vinegar. Vinegar is mainly a dilute aqueous solution of acetic acid which is an important reagent and industrial chemical, mainly used in the production of cellulose acetate. A cellulose acetate is used as film base in photography and a film base is a transparent substance which acts as a support medium for the photosensitive emulsion that lies atop it, its base generally accounts for the vast majority of the thickness of any given film stock. The addition of vinegar and cornstarch in making an ink can result to a thicker consistency and consistent color which is better for the usage of the ink.

Our observations prove that adding vinegar to the mixture can be made into an ink because without the vinegar there would be no consistency on the mixture and it will be less seen.

CONCLUSIONTea bags can be used to create an ink.Vinegar can strengthen the color of the product, ink.Cornstarch effectively contributes to achieving to the right consistency of the ink.The processes boiling and straining are efficient in taking the extract out of the tea bags.

SUMMARIZATIONThere are many different kinds of ink. In our experiment we will use tea bags as the main component of our ink. Having two different set-ups will provide the chance to compare the colors and consistencies. Cornstarch is an efficient additive to have the right consistency of the product. Also vinegar is also efficient, though there is no obvious change in color, it was seen that it gave the ink a consistent color whether wet or dry.

We therefore conclude that one can create an improvised ink using the extract from tea bags. This will be very convenient and cheap because the ingredients to be used are commonly found around the house. Also, the said processes, boiling and straining, are efficient and can be easily done.

RECOMMENDATIONBased on the conducted experiment, we recommend the following for further improvements. To have better results of extraction, suggest that there would be longer minutes of boiling. We also recommend that one should make use of a large amount of corn starch, a thickening agent, so the application of ink would be done easier. Instead of directly placing your desired amount of cornstarch in the mixture above low fire, it would be better to dissolve it first in cold or warm water to avoid forming lumps. We still recommend the usage of vinegar because of the results we have observed. Depending on the availability, one can also use processed soybean oil as a drying oil. This is used as a base for printing inks and oil paints.

BIBLIOGRAPHYCannon, 1995Ciba Review, 1938Irwin and Brett,1970Strange,1924http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Ink-from-Tea http://chemistry.about.com/b/2011/08/09/

how-to-make-ink-easy-ink-recipes.htm http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/27/remove-

ink-with-tea-bags/ http://www.ehow.com/how_4493973_create-

ink.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_bag http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_starch http://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/blog/a-short-

history-of-ink/ http://ancienthistory.about.com/b/

2004/09/27/the-history-of-ink.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_tea http://www.chcp.org/tea.html

http://www.2basnob.com/tea-history-timeline.html

http://www.freesciencefairproject.com/requirements.htm

http://www.investigatoryprojectexample.com/example.html

http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/7H.html

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boiling

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/straining

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/extraction