Question: is there a material that can be used as a scaffolding or matrix under the ocean

[txlibdem]

to grow a large structure by natural forces - attracting the metals naturally occurring in the sea to fill in the holes in the matrix. Much like the scientist who created a human bladder by first devising a scaffolding then submerging it in the proper fluid. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/22/sunday/main3960219.shtml The bladder cells were attracted to the matrix and fell into place.

My question is: would there be a scaffolding or matrix that would be naturally attractive to the metals, etc., in sea water.

Should the answer be yes then a 3d printer could print the matrix on the sea floor as a 3d structure and then simply wait till nature took its course and the desired floating structure could be filled with air (so it could float to the surface) or if an undersea city is desired then it just gets made heavier so the needed amount of air won't cause it to float.

http://www.shapeways.com/ - excellent examples of the detail and complexity possible with 3d printing of plastic or metal

http://www.contourcrafting.org/ - a large scale 3d printer that "prints" a house using concrete, adobe or clay. "Using materials readily available at the build site, construction by Contour Crafting can build dignified houses or colony of houses with all the utilities for electrical and plumbing in less than 24 hours (per house)." <== quote found under Applications, Low Income Housing

Lots of videos to watch but none of an entire house being built, just structural members and a single wall section with proper structure built in as well as chases for utilities to be run prior to being filled in with spray foam.

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So, given all of that: is there a material that would naturally attract minerals or metals from the ocean waters to be incorporated in the matrix, eventually creating an entire dwelling or and entire city (depending on how ambitious the project).

Seawater contains large amounts of dissolved ions and the four most concentrated metal ones (Na, Mg, Ca,
K) are being commercially extracted today. However, all the other metal ions exist at much
lower concentrations.

www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/2/4/980/pdf
... Note: not the exact same process but just a proof that metals can be extracted from seawater. I also notice that everything needed for fertilizer is there as well.

This PDF specifically mentions using a selective membrane to collect the metals so perhaps that process could be modified.

[zeemike]

1. Interesting idea.

But the problem I see with it is the barnicles...how would you keep the little critters off.

[txlibdem]

3. That *is* a serious problem, as is coral growing on the scaffold

In the end it will be a huge structure intended to be pumped full of air so it can float. Corals would die when that happened.

Are coral spores larger than metal ions? If not then perhaps a LARGE netting with precise mesh size could keep out both the barnacles and the coral spores.

[Nihil]

5. Depends on the intended purpose ...

If you wanted the "underwater habitat" option that you mentioned in the OP
then the best thing you could do is to *attract* coral to it (which affects
the depth at which you could site it of course) as turning it into an artificial
reef would make for a pretty durable structure.

The only maintenance after coating the first layer would be to keep any
windows & doors clear but the rest could be allowed to grow as thick as
it can.

:thumbsup:

[txlibdem]

6. Sorry. Must have been too medicated when I wrote this OP

I meant to say that the large matrix structure would be lowered under the sea so that the raw materials (metals mostly) in the ocean would be attracted to the proper areas in the matrix and once metals have sealed up the superstructure it would be pumped full of air and then raised to the surface. Sorry.

:tv:

[Confusious]

2. I think the problem would be

That most stuff dissolved in water ( like a metall ) would be in an ion form, and there is really no way of telling one ion from another, kind of like a magnet that doesn't care what it sticks to, steel, copper or another magnet.

You would attract every salt, metal, or whatever else lies in ion form to your scaffolding, which wouldn't make for a structurally sound construction.

interesting idea though.

[txlibdem]

4. Thanks for the reply.

Ya learn something new every day. But I'm over 50 so everything new I learn pushes out something old so...

;-)