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Museum Shows

Gummiworms demonstration at the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago, IL).

Gummi-worms FAQ

The word polymer can be broken into two parts, “poly” means many and “mer” means parts. A polymer is made of many parts called “monomers.” Gummiworms are a particular type of polymer which has been “cross-linked.” Cross-linked polymers chains are tangled together which makes them strong.

Cool Facts

• Gummiworms are made by “tangling” polymer chains together; the more “tangles,” the stronger the chain.
• Scientists use polymers to make carpet and some clothes that we wear.
• It’s not padding that keeps babies in disposable diapers dry, it’s a polymer! Small polymers inside of diapers have the ability to hold water.
• Silly Putty is a polymer, invented by an engineer in the 1940s. Originally called Nutty Putty, it can stretch to many times its original size!
• Some polymers can remember their shape. When you stretch a rubberband and release it, it goes back to its original shape.
• Certain polymers do not melt. Firefighters use these polymers in their equipment to keep themselves safe while they fight fires.

FAQ’s

Q: What are some other examples of “cross-linked” polymers?

A: Not all cross-linked polymers are edible like gummiworms. Silly Putty is a cross-linked polymer and so are the rubber tires on a car. Cellulose is a natural cross-linked polymer that makes plants strong (it contains hundreds of “tangles”.)

Q: How does silly putty work?

A: Silly putty is an elastic polymer which means it is a polymer that is able to remember its shape. When you stretch out something that is elastic, like a rubber band, the polymers stretch. When you let go, the substance snaps back to its original shape.

Q: How do the polymers inside of a diaper keep a baby dry?

A: Diapers contain a polymer which absorbs water. This polymer can absorb about 50 times its weight inside of a diaper.

Q: Is it true that some polymers do not burn?

A: Some cross-linked polymers have very strong ties together. As a result, when the rubber gets hot, the rubber molecules cannot move past each other. This is why it doesn't melt.

Relevance to our lives : Polymers influence much of technology. Cross-linked polymers are particularly useful because of their strength. In diapers, cross-linked polymers have the strength to hold water. Also, tires on cars can handle a lot of mileage without breaking down. Cross-linked polymers can even be heat resistant such as the polymers used to make a firefighter’s uniform.

Resources:

Hands on Plastics: http://www.handsonplastics.com/

Recycle City: http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/

The Macrogalleria – a cyberwonderland of polymer fun: