Polymer Lab Group Investigation

Title: Polymer Lab;Changing Variables

Problem: How can we make a stronger polymer using materials similar to the ones used in Tuesdays lab? (glue and two tsp. of borax)

Hypothesis: If we use a stronger type of glue, and more borax, then the solution that we create will be stronger, and it will have a higher rebound factor.

Changes From First Experiment: Instead of white elmer's glue we are going to use wood glue. Also, we are going to conduct two separate experiments. The first one we will only change the type of glue. The second one, however, we will also include a increase of 2tsp. for borax. The reason for this is too see what will be the cause of certain changes, the wood glue or the increase in borax.

Materials:

Elmer's wood glue

water

stirring rod

500mL beaker

250mL beaker

graduated cylinder

borax

Results: The first experiment(we used wood glue instead of regular) was a success, we ended up creating a stronger polymer that did not come apart as easily. In fact, this one had lots of differences from last Tuesdays experiment. For one, it was yellow because of the wood glue we used instead of Elmer's white glue. Another thing was that is was much more soft, sticky, and it was easier to mold even when it had been in the freezer for 10 minutes. It was also very stretchy. We were able to stretch it up to 14 feet after we had freezed it! But even after it had gotten out of the freezer it wasn't very solid, even molding to the shape of the beaker it was in. As for the rebound measure it was much less than Tuesday's, the average being about 4.4, and after the freezing it was about 9.

While the first experiment went fairly well, the second experiment had much different results. This time the result was messy, while the outer parts was very hard, the middle of the glob was still liquid. In the end, it was too sticky to even take it off of the paper towel.

Conclusion: I partly except my hypothesis. While we did make a stronger polymer than before, the rebound was drastically less. Instead of the 10cm. before, the wood glue polymer made it only about 4.2. But I do believe that my whole group was surprised by the outcome. I was skeptical whether or not using wood glue would make a different to the outcome, or if it would even work. But if anything, it worked even better than the white glue. But the second experiment didn't turn out too well. The result was a yellow, gooey sticky mess, instead of the stronger, more bouncy polymer we were aiming for. The huge problem we had in our lab was not being able to even get the second experiment's results of the paper towel we put it one so we couldn't see the rebound factor. But it was such a large mess that I don't think it would have even mattered. But what was really exciting about this investigation was that my group got to make their own experiment like actual scientists. We got to research different things and see what we could change about the experiment to get different results. And while one part of the experiment was a success, the second one was a failure. While it was a bit disappointing, it was interesting to learn what the effects of more borax was. It was really a real life experience.