What is this clay and rubberish metarial?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the creation of a unique material by mixing crafting glue, which contains polyvinyl acetate (PVA), with rubber dust. Initially, the mixture exhibits clay-like properties, allowing it to be shaped and stretched. Over time, it transitions to a rubber-like consistency, resembling materials used in superballs, which are made of polybutadiene. The transformation occurs due to the evaporation of solvents in the glue, leaving behind a thin layer of elastomer that binds the components together.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and its properties
  • Basic knowledge of elastomers and their applications
  • Familiarity with the chemical composition of common adhesives
  • Awareness of polymer materials, specifically polybutadiene
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and applications of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) in crafting
  • Learn about the chemical structure and uses of polybutadiene
  • Explore the differences between polystyrene and polyurethane-based adhesives
  • Investigate the process of solvent evaporation in adhesive applications
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry enthusiasts, materials scientists, and individuals interested in crafting and adhesive properties will benefit from this discussion.

Nabir14
Messages
42
Reaction score
14
TL;DR
I mixed crafting glue with rubber dust and rubbed it on my hand for some reason and it made this clayish ball which after some time acts more like rubber than clay. What is this?
I was feeling very bored so I wanted to play with my surroundings and I had:

Crafting glue:
images.jpeg

And Rubber Dust:
IMG_20240820_191704.jpg


Near me so I (for some reason) mixed them together and rubbed them on my hand. After some time it started to take a spherical shape. It lost the stickiness of glue and started acting like clay, it could be stretched too. After some more time it lost its clay property and started acting like rubber. It could still be stretched but not so much. Touching it feels like plastic and it also works like a dustless kinda less efficient pencil eraser.

Why? Like I mixed glue and rubber "dust" together and rubbed it on my hand so why did it became a clayish metarial? And then why did it even became a rubberish plastic type metarial after some time? Also there wasn't much rubber dust so how did it also worked like a pencil eraser?

Image of the metarial:
IMG_20240820_191653.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Chemistry news on Phys.org
What kind of glue is crafting glue?
Chemically?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Nabir14
BillTre said:
What kind of glue is crafting glue?
Chemically?
polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a vinyl polymer and type of thermoplastic.
 
jedishrfu said:
On inspection, it looks like superball material but you'd need a chemist to tell you what you've made.

Superballs are made of polybutadiene:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Ball
Oh I will ask my chemistry teacher what I made.
 
Without getting into the chemistry, you just glued rubber to rubber. Probably not the same kind of rubber. Most glue is a rubber material, that has been dissolved into a solvent. When you glue something together, your spreading the rubber out very thin. Then the solvent evaporates, and you have the very thin layer of rubber holding the 2 parts together. Many glues are polystyrene or polyurethane based rubbers, technically called an elastomer. Very simplified explanation.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Nabir14
In your case one of the elastomers was the Polyvinyl (acetate). Another more common version of this is PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Nabir14
Lazaris Long said:
Without getting into the chemistry, you just glued rubber to rubber. Probably not the same kind of rubber. Most glue is a rubber material, that has been dissolved into a solvent. When you glue something together, your spreading the rubber out very thin. Then the solvent evaporates, and you have the very thin layer of rubber holding the 2 parts together. Many glues are polystyrene or polyurethane based rubbers, technically called an elastomer. Very simplified explanation.
I see
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
5K
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
11K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
665
Replies
2
Views
7K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K