The objective of this activity is to prove the use of polymers and one of their multiple properties from an informative point of view and with daily materials.

The objective of this activity is to prove the use of polymers and one of their multiple properties from an informative point of view and with daily materials. The philosophy of the demonstration is to illustrate how important crystallisation processes are to understand the physics of materials. The activity consists of preparing a crosslinked polymer (slime), based on everyday elements such as transparent glue, water and borax. In addition, food colouring is used to colour the polymer and a few drops of fluorescein (organic fluorophore) can be added to give emissive properties after illumination with ultraviolet light. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a component of clear glue, is soluble in water, but when mixed with borax it forms a three-dimensional network that traps water and creates a semi-solid gel known as slime.

Coordinated by: Raquel Galián and Alejandra Soriano, researchers of the Molecular Science Institute of the University of Valencia.

Date and time:
September 29, 2022, from 10 am to 14 pm and from 16.30 pm to 20 pm

Place: Dock shed number 2 of the Valencia port.