Project Essay Example

Project Essay The polymer will lose its high bendable strength as more water is animal units bonded together. Polyvinyl acetate is a rubbery synthetic polymer. This polymer is a component in glue. Mixing borax with polyvinyl acetate will cause it to cross-link and form slime. Cross-linking is a bond that links one polymer chain to another. (see diagram below). Borax, which is also, known as sodium borate is a non- toxic substance and has a wide-variety of uses. We need to use our knowledge of chemistry to explain the physical characteristics and chemical behavior of a particular material. Our objective in this experiment was to create a polymer ball that was both echo-friendly and nontoxic. Methods/Procedures The following items were used: -Polyvinyl alcohol -Sodium borate -Polyvinyl acetate solid -Starch During week one of our experiment we used all of the ingredients that were given to us. A 10:1 ratio between polyvinyl alcohol and sodium borate was used. We used this ratio because while conducting research, there was a similar experiment to the polymer ball and it said a 10:1 ratio was used. Ml of borax and ml of polyvinyl alcohol was poured into a mall beaker. We will write a custom essay sample on Project specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Project specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Project specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Then the mixture was stirred for about 10 minutes until the mixture became a sticky substance. Ml of polyvinyl acetate was hen poured into the mixture. The mixture was stirred for 2-3 minutes. During week two we were supposed to tweak our mixture and also make our polymer ball resistant to the heat and cold because it was going to be shipped from Florida to New Mexico to Alaska. During this experiment we changed our experiment using less ingredients and less substances. The only ingredients used were the polyvinyl alcohol and the sodium borate. Ml of polyvinyl alcohol and ml of sodium borate were mixed in a mall beaker. The mixture was stirred until it started to thicken which took about 10-15 minutes. The mixture was taken out of the beaker, and rolled into a ball for about 5 minutes then put back in the beaker and let it sit for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the mixture became less sticky and was easier to roll into the shape of a ball. Since we were supposed to create a ball that was resistant to different climate temperatures, the polymer ball was split into two. Half of the ball would be in hot water and the other would be in ice. Results/Discussion When the Papa and sodium borate were mixed together, the mixture became very sticky and a lot of air bubbles were formed and the mixture also foamed. The mixture kook the shape of the beaker, but when it was taken out of the beaker and was left to sit on the table, the polymer would flatten out. This is called shape memory, materials that can remember their shape after a distortion occurs and can reconfigure its shape upon a stimulus. In the second week of this experiment we planned to not use starch, or polyvinyl polyvinyl acetate solid did nothing to our product. To test the polymer ball as to whether or not the ball could withstand different temperature climates. Two tests were performed. An ice bath test, and a boiling water test. One half of the ball was tinting in a beaker of ice. As soon as the polymer was placed in the beaker it started to steam and immediately it started to freeze. The p olymer also started to flatten out. When it was taken out of the ice it was very slippery and hard to grip. It was also difficult to roll into a ball. But, after it sat in room temperature it was easier to mold into a ball and still carried the bounce that a bouncy ball should have. In boiling water experiment, water was boiled in a beaker with the use of a Bunsen burner. After the water was boiling we placed the polymer ball into the water and it melted UT didnt fully dissolve in the water. There was a layer of the polymer ball floating in the water. We collected the layer and put the substance into a beaker. When the substance cooled down and was back to room temperature, the substance became very stretchy. The polymer could also be rolled back into a ball. Conclusion In conclusion, we were not able to create a polymer ball that would be able to withstand different climate changes, but were able to create the bouncy ball. The polymers we created did bounce although they were a little floppy and werent perfect spheres. The polymer stuck to all surfaces but was easy to pull off. It was moldable and easy to form. It couldnt be pulled apart or stretched, Just squished and squeezed. When the polyvinyl acetate solid was added to our first mixture it had glue like color and no changes were made to the substance. When you add borax solution to polymers like PA, it cross-links the two polymers together like a net. Depending on how much of each ingredient is mixed you can either make a mixture that is slimy or stretchy. By adding cornstarch the mixture will be able to bend and stretch the mix. Most plastics are polymers. For example PVC pipes is the continuous linking of the same molecule.