Polymer Chemistry
This is a collection of polymer chemistry notes, lectures, lessons, and articles.
Plastics & Polymers Science Fair Project Ideas
Find ideas for a science fair project involving plastics or polymers.
Find ideas for a science fair project involving plastics or polymers.
How Do Disposable Diapers Work? Why Do They Leak?
Learn about the polymer in disposable diapers, sodium polyacrylate. Find out how the polymer absorbs water and why diapers leak.
Learn about the polymer in disposable diapers, sodium polyacrylate. Find out how the polymer absorbs water and why diapers leak.
Why Do Clothes Wrinkle?
Learn why clothes wrinkle and how permanent press fabrics work. It's a matter of polymer chemistry and chemical bonding.
Learn why clothes wrinkle and how permanent press fabrics work. It's a matter of polymer chemistry and chemical bonding.
Bouncing Polymer Ball
Use chemistry to make a bouncing polymer ball, then alter the procedure to see the effect the changes have on the charactertistics of the bouncing ball.
Use chemistry to make a bouncing polymer ball, then alter the procedure to see the effect the changes have on the charactertistics of the bouncing ball.
Electroactive Slime Instructions
This recipe makes cool, non-toxic slime that appears to have a life of its own!
This recipe makes cool, non-toxic slime that appears to have a life of its own!
Fake Snow Instructions
You can make fake snow using a common polymer. The fake snow is non-toxic, feels cool to the touch, and looks similar to the real thing.
You can make fake snow using a common polymer. The fake snow is non-toxic, feels cool to the touch, and looks similar to the real thing.
Gelatin Plastic
Colorful gelatin shapes can be used to make jewelry, mobiles, decorations, and more!
Colorful gelatin shapes can be used to make jewelry, mobiles, decorations, and more!
Goo Recipe
Make squishy non-toxic goo that hardens in your hands when you squeeze it, but flows like a liquid when you pour it.
Make squishy non-toxic goo that hardens in your hands when you squeeze it, but flows like a liquid when you pour it.
Gunk Recipe
This is sort of like slime, but drier and very non-toxic if left uncolored.
This is sort of like slime, but drier and very non-toxic if left uncolored.
Materials Science Fair Projects
Materials science involves physical science and engineering. Science fair projects can invent new materials, improve existing materials, test the properties of materials, or compare the suitability of different materials for a specific purpose. Here's a look at some science fair project ideas in this field of research.
Materials science involves physical science and engineering. Science fair projects can invent new materials, improve existing materials, test the properties of materials, or compare the suitability of different materials for a specific purpose. Here's a look at some science fair project ideas in this field of research.
Metamucil Flubber
This recipe makes a non-sticky sort of 'rubber' or gelatinous slime.
This recipe makes a non-sticky sort of 'rubber' or gelatinous slime.
Natural Plastic from Dairy
Plastics are generally produced from petroleum, but they can come from other sources as well! All that is really required is the ability to join molecules containing carbon and hydrogen together, which you do whenever you curdle milk.
Plastics are generally produced from petroleum, but they can come from other sources as well! All that is really required is the ability to join molecules containing carbon and hydrogen together, which you do whenever you curdle milk.
Oobleck Recipe
Learn how to make Oobleck, a type of slime that has properties of both liquids and solids.
Learn how to make Oobleck, a type of slime that has properties of both liquids and solids.
Silly Putty
Learn about the history of Silly Putty, how it works, how to make your own, and what you can do to explore the interesting properties of this viscoelastic liquid.
Learn about the history of Silly Putty, how it works, how to make your own, and what you can do to explore the interesting properties of this viscoelastic liquid.
Slime Step-By-Step Instructions
Slime is easy and fun to make, plus it only requires glue, borax, and water. Here are step-by-step instructions for making classic slime, complete with photos.
Slime is easy and fun to make, plus it only requires glue, borax, and water. Here are step-by-step instructions for making classic slime, complete with photos.
Center for Polymer Studies
Boston University presents these research projects, patterns in nature Java simulations, The Dance of Chance science museum exhibit, Java virtual molecular dynamics laboratory, hands-on experiments, and fractal galleries.
Boston University presents these research projects, patterns in nature Java simulations, The Dance of Chance science museum exhibit, Java virtual molecular dynamics laboratory, hands-on experiments, and fractal galleries.
High Solids Aliphatic Polyurethane Coatings
Synthesis and performance. From Shiwei Guan.
Synthesis and performance. From Shiwei Guan.
Materials By Design
Types of materials (metals, glasses, ceramics, polymers) and X-ray techniques for analyzing them. From Cornell University.
Types of materials (metals, glasses, ceramics, polymers) and X-ray techniques for analyzing them. From Cornell University.
Plastics News
Abstracts and Tables of Contents.
Abstracts and Tables of Contents.
Nylon Life Cycle
The invention, commercialization, growth, and maturation of the nylon industry are discussed.
The invention, commercialization, growth, and maturation of the nylon industry are discussed.
Polymer Morphology
Atomic scale to macroscopic scale look at polymeric structures. From Gregory Beaucage, University of Cincinnati.
Atomic scale to macroscopic scale look at polymeric structures. From Gregory Beaucage, University of Cincinnati.
Polymers
History, chemistry, and teaching materials covering this topic. From the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
History, chemistry, and teaching materials covering this topic. From the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Polymers, They’re Everywhere
Colorful grade school introduction to natural and artificial polymers. From the National Geographic Society.
Colorful grade school introduction to natural and artificial polymers. From the National Geographic Society.
Resources for Polymer Chemists
Tables include densities, refractive indices, and plasticizer compatabilities. From Scientific Polymer Products.
Tables include densities, refractive indices, and plasticizer compatabilities. From Scientific Polymer Products.