Investigating the Ratio Between Poly-Vinyl Alcohol Essay Example for Free

Investigating the Ratio Between Poly-Vinyl Alcohol Essay excogitationPoly-Vinyl Alcohol (polyvinyl acetate) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer that testament be used as one element to variation the well know bouncing ball, on with Sodium Borate (borax), which has a variety of uses because of its weak base. PVA is ideal for this experiment because it is odorless, nontoxic, has high tensile strength and flexibility. The binder characteristics of PVA offer excellent fond regard to porous, water-absorbent surfaces. A local manufacturer wants to find a material to create a simple toy a bouncing ball. Research institutions collaborate with local manufacturers and provide professional assistance with their projects. In trying to create a bouncing ball, one must find the appropriate ratio of the two that forms a solid for which have the properties that a bouncing ball consist. It is important that we find the correct ratio so that it is perfect shape, texture, and saltation. The main property that we are examen for is the crops bounciness.Figure 1 The reaction of PVA and borax.In the above illustration, two PVA molecules are shown being cross-linked by a hydrated borax molecule. Four molecules of water are also aroused. Hypothesis In this experiment, I predict that if more Poly-vinyl Alcohol over Sodium Borate, then the appropriate bouncing solid will be formed.MethodsWith the supplied solutions of PVA and sodium borate, my theme and I took 100 mL of severally solution. We measured out different ratios repeatedly to find the appropriate ratio. stick with a happy medium of 10mL (PVA) and 20mL (Sodium Borate) and examined the results. The results are not accurate so you have to test the extremes and then examine which way to continue. In my experiment, more of PVA is needed and less of sodium borate is needed.Continue testing until you get closer and closer to an adequate ratio with a good solid product, which we can to the finishing that 41 as well 7 1 worked as good ratios to further test. We tested the ratio by cooling one and passion the other. By cooling the product it was able to mollify and somewhat stay in shape. On the other hand, by hotness it it doesnt keep its form thus unable to be bounced. So to harden the heated product follow the possibleness of heating (50c) to then immediately cooling (12c) the product this helps to harden the product inside out thus allow the product to keep its shape as well as bounce like a dead on target manufactured bouncy ball.ResultsRatios table 1Trial(s) Amount of PVA Amount of Sodium Borate Ratio Description 1 10 mL 20 mL 12 slimy2 3 mL 30 mL 110 watery3 30 mL 3 mL 101 play-dough4 20 mL 1 mL 201 foamy5 10 mL 2 mL 51 rubbery6 8 mL 2 mL 41 slightly crumbly- 12 mL 3 mL 41** harder/shaped7 15 mL 5 mL 31 slimy/not guardianship form8 7 mL 1 mL 71 too slimy- 14 mL 2 mL 71** harder/shapedNote ** multiple tests (heated, cooled, heated and cooled)Bouncing Height table 2Ratio Iced (12c) H eated (50c) Heated then Cooled 41 8-10 cm - 30-32 cm71 9-11 cm - 19-20 cmpH 8 weakly alkalineDiscussionA local manufacturer valued my team to find a suitable ratio to create the well-known toy, the bouncing ball. In efforts to do so, our TA supplied PVA, along with sodium borate, to the students. Each group could only acquire so much at a time. My group acquired 100 mL of both PVA and sodium borate. To start, we did a 12 ratio just as a test to see if it would solidify into a ball. As a result, it came out slimy so we tried to up the amount of sodium borate (110 ratio), which lead us to a more watery product. Since increasing the amount of borax lead us in the wrong direction, we change magnitude PVA and lowered sodium borate to a 101 ratio. This ratio gave us a play-dough outcome, which was closer to what we needed. Decreasing the amount of solution to a 51 ratio, we moved even closer. The 51 was starting to feel rubbery. After seeing how close we were with the 51, we tried the 4 1. Our 41 and 71 were fairly similar and the closet to our projected outcome but it was not quite there yet. So, by heating and cooling each result gave us a somewhat reasonable result.The result of cooling our 71 product for 30 minutes was a harder but quiet lacked shape as well as the 41 product that was cooled for 30 minutes. The 71 result was able to bounce 9-11 cm in height era the 41 product was able to bounce to a similar height of 8-10 cm. Both products heated would not bounce or keep form, so we immediately put both on ice. As most people should know, with the rapid temperature (from hot to cold), it causes an object to harden from the inside out. So, with this theory in mind, after the heated products failed we placed them on ice and let it sit there and harden. The products hardened over a 15-minute time frame and we could distinctly see the difference between these and the rest of our trials.The heated then cooled product for the 71 ratio could bounce to a height inte rval of 19-20 cm, while the product from the 41 ratio could bounce to a height interval of 30-32 cm. Ultimately, we have to accept the best product for the manufacturer to mass produce and market so that the most money can be made. From the data collected, the ratio 41 is the closest to form a perfect product (bouncy ball) simply because it bounced higher which meant it was harder as well as kept its shape. But, from this experiment, we can conclude that either just cooling the ratio or by heating then immediately cooling the ratio product creates an adequate bouncy ball that when dropped it bounces like a true bouncy ball.References Experiment 2. Polymers. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2012. http//matse1.matse.illinois.edu/polymers/e.html. Polyvinyl Alcohol. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Aug. 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2012. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_alcohol. Borax. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2012. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax.