CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Writing is a way to communicate with others. An art form for expressing thoughts one wants to share. Writing can change things, and it already had. Writing promotes your ability to ask and also fosters your ability to explain. And in order to do these, one must get a hold of ink and a piece of paper. That is why the researcher wants to find another substitute for industrial inks. Because most of the inks that are for sale today are a tad bit expensive, since only a few people use these kinds of inks compared to the people who write electronically. This researcher endeavors to prove that teabags can be a source of colorant for ink and by adding vinegar and cornstarch to the mix, the ink produces a more vibrant and long lasting hue. Writing on paper preserves the splendid ideas of the youth in this generation so that it may be reflected in the years to come. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Generally, the researcher wants to know if teabags are an effective colorant for making Calligraphy ink. Other than that we want to know if vinegar and cornstarch can strengthen the color of the ink and if flour can contribute to the desired consistency of the ink. HYPOTHESIS
There are two hypothesizes in this study. The researcher would like to find out if teabags are an effective colorant in producing ink and if cornstarch and vinegar is added to the ink, it will produce a much more vibrant and long-lasting color. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Vintage things make a comeback. In this generation of young adults polaroid cameras, ray bans, pocket watches, and other cool vintage items are trending. One of those items are calligraphy pens. Calligraphy is a type of visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a broad tip instrument or brush in one stroke as opposed to built up lettering, in which the letters are drawn. In order to use this pen, ink that is usually water-based and much less viscous than the oil-based inks used in printing is needed. And that
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special type of ink is what we call Calligraphy ink. Calligraphy ink is only found in certain shops and it usually comes with a costly price. Most inks in the market contain gum arabic that gums up the tips of the pen while others like nanoparticle inks that brings more risk in clogging. As an artistic and on the know individual, the researcher wants to find an alternative ink that can be also ised for calligraphy pens.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
The ink can only be used for fountain and calligraphy pens and as a simple ink only for colorant. It cannot be used as in printing machines such as printers, copiers and typewriters. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Teabags – a small porous bag containing tea leaves or powdered tea, onto which boiling water is poured in order to make a drink of tea. Vinegar – a sour-tasting liquid containing acetic acid, obtained by fermenting dilute alcoholic liquids, typically wine, cider, or beer, and used as a condiment or for pickling. Flour – a powder obtained by grinding grain, typically wheat, and used to make bread, cakes, and pastry. Cornstarch – finely ground corn flour, used as a thickener in cooking. Boiling – the action of bringing a liquid to the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor. Cooling – become or cause to become less hot.
Stirring – move a spoon or other implement around in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly.
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CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Darci Pauser (2008)
Alugbati, known in the U.S. as Malabar spinach, is commonly grown for its soft, spinach-like leaves and shoots. Alugbati is of African and East Asian origin. The juice of the fruits was reportedly used in ancient China as ink for official seals. Today, the fruits of the red-stemmed alugbati variety can be used to make ink. As of May 2010, the government of the Philippines is researching commercial production of ink extracted from the alugbati fruits. Fernandez (1995)
Marker inks are widely used in the Philippines at present but because it is being manufactured in other countries it is expensive. Due to this, the leaf protein concentrates of Mayana Leaves is used as a cheaper source of colorant for marker ink. Explodingovaries (2013)
The ink used in a highlighter pen or in any other pens plays an important part in defining the reading experience and comprehension, as well as the visual impact of the written message, to the person reading them. The ink, is of no small importance, and in the end, it is the one that determines the significance of the pen itself. The sap of Powder-puff fruits is purplish and rich in color. It is this dye that interests me to pursue the possibility of making it into the primary colorant for highlighter inks. Ronna Mae Firmo (2013)
Charcoal is one of the most used fire spreader or fuel and considered economically important to Filipinos. Charcoal briquettes are most commonly used on cooking purposes; they are used as a fuel, in order for the fire to produce more heat. There is a possibility on producing ink out of charcoal and is effective and alternative substitute on normal inks. Using charcoal on producing ink is cost-efficient. The charcoal ink is quick-drying when wrote on any type of paper. The charcoal ink lasts long even if it is just on its container for a long period of time and not on use.
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Michelle Phan (2013)
Teabags can also be me made into eye de-puffers. By placing a brewed teabag on each of your eye the tannic acid helps de puff and shrink any puffiness or inflammation in the eye area Christy Hall (2013)
Teabags are also of great help in the kitchen. When a kitchen injury strikes, by brewing the blak tea bag in hot water and holding it against the injury for about 30 seconds, the tannins in the teabag will quickly clot the blood. It can also guarantee that you pots and pans stay rust-free. By wiping them with a damp, brewed, used black tea bag every cooking session, the tea’s tannins will coat the pan with an inviscible protective layer that prevents rust-causing oxidation. Dana Lacson (2011)
Most people in school, particularly the students and the teachers, needs markers for our reports, projects, and etc. But one of the problems in using markers is they ran out of ink easily. Because of that, we need to buy again a new one, since no one or no store sells refil inks for markers. But the question is- how can we make refill ink for our markers in a cheaper way? Can our natural resources help us in this situation? Seaweeds can be of help. Ink can be made out of seaweeds and a few other constituents Kelly Vaghenas (2013)
Cultivate your healthy plants and bring your dying ones back to life by breaking open a soaked tea bag and disseminating the contents over the soil. Roses and ferns do especially well with the acidic tannins found in tea. Odors might also be closer than you think: especially if you’ve been handling fish, your hands might smell…fishy. Rinse your hands with old tea. As for your mouth and all that bad-breath bacteria, skip the shocking Listerine and go for a gentle mint tea mouth rinse. Jael Christian (2011) Inks consist of a vehicle that is the liquid or paste that carries or binds the ink to a surface, a colorant, which is the substance that provides the ink with color and modifier or additives. Banana sap from some parts of the tree contain pigment and dyes, thus not aware of this potential medium is a waste. This materials is biodegradable and research was conducted especially to test the potential of banana sap as a pigment and dye to be used as a medium in creating artwork. 4
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Materials Needed
Sources
Costs
Amount Needed
Shelf Life
Teabags
Supermarket
Php 5 – 15/ bag
7-10 teabags
2-4 years
Water
Faucet
–
2 ½ cups
–
Baking Soda
Baking Supplies Store
Php10/40 grams
1 -2 tablespoons
5 years
Flour
Baking Supplies Store
Php40/ kilogram
3-8 cups
4 years
Vinegar
Supermarket
Php 25/
1 tablespoon
2-5 years
The equipment that are needed is a heating pan, oven, stirrer, fork and a container for the ink. The teabags where place in 1 and a half cup of boiling water and was left there for 6-10 minutes until the tea was cooked. After that, the teabags were removed from the boiling water. A strainer and the stirrer was used in order to achieve the action stated. While the tea was being stirred in the still boiling pan, a tablespoon of vinegar was added. Dissolved baking soda and flour was added until the desired consistency was reached. It was then removed from the heat and was left for a couple of minutes to cool. The ink was now poured inside its container for future usage.
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CHAPTER 4
RESULTS AND DISSCUSSION
Table #1: Process and Outcome
Trial #
Description
Outcome
Trial
Unsuccessful
Exact proportions were added. Did not sift the flour. Flour was added directly and all at once. Color was faint. Clumps of flour are visible in ink.
Trial 2
Successful
Exact proportions. Consistency is fine. Burnt edges due to the absence of stirring. Color was vibrant The ink aqcuired a darker color for it was burnt.
Trial 3
Successful
Exact proportions. Consistency is fine. Vinegar was not added to the ink. The color of the ink was faint compared to Trial 2 and 3 due to the lack of ink Trial 4
Succesfull
Exact proportions although it was doubled. Consistency is fine. The most accurate of all the trials.
Analysis of Data:
Trial 1: All of the components were in the right proportion. When it came too adding the flour, it was added directly unto the boiling tea. It should have been sifted first. Human error. Trial 2: Succesful, although slightly burned due to inadequate stirring. Consistency is exact. Acquired a dark brown shade of ink. Easily applied to paper. Trial 3: Succesful. Consistency is also exact. Aqcuired a dark brown shade of ink. Ink is less vibrant than Trial 2 for it lacks vinegar. Trial: Same as Trial 2 (though it is not burnt) but double the proportions.
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Recommendation:
Based on the reseacher’s observation, it was found out that the batches of ink that had vinegar had a more vibrant and long lasting color. The flour that was sifted twice produced a finer ink. In Trial 2 the ink was left to boil alone, when it was checked upon, the edges were burnt. Constant stirring is advisable. The researcher also suggests that a non-stick pan should be used so the ink is poured out of the cooking pan without difficulty. The researcher also recommends the ink itself, compared to the price and quality of industrial ink is better for people who’d rather save and do things themsleves.
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