Chemicals and Solutions:
Sodium borate
Polyvinyl alcohol
Materials:
25mL graduated cylinder
10mL graduated cylinder
Food coloring (optional)
3oz cups
Stir sticks
Procedure:
Mix 25 ml polyvinyl alcohol solution with 5 ml sodium borate solution and a few drops of food coloring. Stir to make the polymer.
Hint:
Discussion:
4% Polyvinyl alcohol aq. Heat one liter of water on a hotplate. Add 40 g polyvinyl alcohol and stir to dissolve. Do not boil.
4% Sodium borate aq. Dissolve 40 g sodium borate in one liter of water.
Cup and spoon
Borate ion crosslinks with the hydroxyl group of polyvinyl alcohol. These crosslinks probably involve multiple hydrogen bonds that break and reform. The relatively weak crosslinking is necessary to produce the viscoelastic gel. Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid that is dilatant, that is, under stress, the material dilates or expands. Other stress thickening materials are quicksand and Silly Putty. Under low stress, such as pulling slowly, dilatant materials will flow and stretch; if tossed gently they will bounce. Under high stress, such as pulling sharply, dilatant materials break.
To schedule a demonstration, please send an email to the demonstration lab.
Contact:
Eric Camp
Lecture Demonstration Technician
Bagley Hall 171
(206) 543-1606