Duhok polytechnic university

Faculty of Petrochemical Engineering

School of polymer

Laboratory of POLYMER
EXPERIMENT NUMBER FOUR

OCTANE NUMBER

Instructor: Mr. arqam

Author Name: 1-Muhammad Akram 2-Muhammad star
3-Ranko nawzad 4-Aram ismael 5-Pashew pirot
6-Rebaz kamil 7-Yusif shamdin
Experiment Contacted on: 14/APR/2018
Report Submitted on: 21/APR /2018
Group: A
INTRODUCTION:
in this experiment, a polymer (polyvinyl alcohol) chemically reacts with
borax to form a crosslinked polymer network. Individual polymer chains are
formed by covalent bonds, which are strong bonds. In making slime, the
individual polymer chains are bound together by weak hydrogen bonds. The
resulting polymer network is composed of strands of polyvinyl alcohol held
together side-by-side by the borate molecules. It is evident that this
crosslinking is weak because of the ease with which the slime flows and pulls
apart. However, even though this crosslinking is weak, it does alter the
properties of the resulting polymer.A solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
can be made into a slime by adding borax solution (sodium tetraborate),
which creates cross-links between the polymer chains which contain
hydroxyl groups.
THEORY:
Hydrogels are three-dimensional network of hydrophilic cross-linked
polymer that do not dissolve but can swell in water or can respond to
the fluctuations of the environmental stimuli
Hydrogels are highly absorbent (they can contain over 90% water)
natural or synthetic polymeric networks
Hydrogels also possess a degree of flexibility very similar to natural
tissue, due to their significant water content
Procedure
I. In beaker, (1 g) of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) in (25 ml) of water (D.W.)
(4%) solution, then heat the solution at 50-60 C with stirring until a clear
solution is appeared
2. Simultaneously, prepare another solution of (0.25 g) of borax in (6.5ml) of
D.W. (4%) solution.
3. To achieve complete dissolution, it is convenient to gently warm the
mixture at a temperature not exceeding 50°C.
4. At this point, add a few drops of food coloring (tartrazine) or fluorescein
to the appeared. dissolution of alcohol, and mix both solutions by glass rod
until slime hydrogel forms.
5. A slime forms quickly and can be stored in a plastic bag with self-closing
mechanism to prevent drying.
Discussion:
i. Pull the slime apart slowly. What happens?
 The slime is still and didn’t cut.
2. Pull the slime apart sh.arply and quickly. What happens?
 The slime cut after apart sharply
3. Roll the slime into a bail and drop it on to the bench. What happens?
 The ball is flexible and still
4. Place a small bit of slime on the bench and hit it hard with your hand.
What happens?
 The ball is still and didn’t broke
5. Place a very small piece of slime in a Petri dish. Add the dilute
hydrochloric acid dropwise, stirring well after each drop. When you notice a
change record the number of drops added and your observations.?
 We add 5 drop of HCl and decomposition happened and color
changed with the PH.
6. Now add dilute sodium hydroxide solution to the same sample used above
in 6, stirring after each drop. When you notice a change record the number
of drops added and your observations.?
 The solution returned to hydrogel