Workshop 8: MacGuyver Polymers
- LCHS Physical Science		 LCHS Main SiteSD271 Main siteUof I New Century Classroom
Objectives: The learner will...
...use common materials to create exciting polymers
...understand the polymerization catalyst reaction
 


Purpose:
When smaller identical subunits called monmers connect together in larger groups they are called polymers. The octane below is made up of 8 smaller units of methane conected in a chain. To connect the monomers into a polymer requires a catalyst. This workshop provides you with 3 polymer recipes to choose from. Borax is the catalyst in GAK & SLIME, and vinegar (acetic acid) is the catalyst in the MOO-GLUE.

Procedure:
Choose a recipe below and create a polymer to take with you

GAK
white glue
water
powdered borax soap

  1. Use a plastic spoon or wooden popsicle and mix the white glue with water in a cup 50-50 and add a few drops of food coloring if you wish
  2. In another small cup half full with water add powdered Borax soap and stir vigorously, adding Borax until no more dissolves and it collects on the bottom
  3. Stir the 50/50 glue/water solution as you slowly pour small amounts of the saturated Borax catalyst into the 50/50 glue/water solution
  4. The solution should quickly start to thicken. Adding more Borax catalyst will make it more putty-like. Some prefer to work the mix with their hands until the desired consistency is reached

SLIME
guar gum
water
powdered borax soap

  1. Use a plastic spoon or wooden popsicle and SLOWLY mix in a small pinch of guar gum (available at some health food stores) into a small paper cup about half full with water and add a few drops of food coloring if you wish
  2. In another small cup half full with water add powdered Borax soap and stir vigorously, adding Borax until no more dissolves and it collects on the bottom
  3. Stir the guar gum solution as you slowly pour in small amounts of the saturated Borax catalyst
  4. The solution should start to thicken. Adding more Borax catalyst will make it less slimey and more pasty. Some prefer to work the mix with their hands until the desired consistency is reached

MOO-GLUE
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon of vinegar
2 tablespoons of powdered non-fat milk
About 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Water
2 plastic cups
A spoon
Paper coffee filter

  1. Add hot water and powdered milk into a cup and stir until dissolved.
  2. Add vinegar to the mixture, and stir. Curd globs should begin to form.
  3. Milk has a protein called casein that clumps together to form curds in the presence of acid.
  4. Filter out the curd with the coffee fllter in the second cup, squeezing the filter to remove as much of the liquid as possible.
  5. Break the curd up thoroughly with the spoon in a dry cup.
  6. Add one teaspoon of hot water and 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to the chopped curd and mix thoroughly. Bubbling should occur. Mix until the curd becomes smooth like white glue.

Conclusion:
Show the instructor your completed polymer in a ziploc bag (for safe transport) to receive your grade.