bouncy balls

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lab-woman
Posts: 66
Joined: 01 Sep 2010, 11:33
State/Location: NSW

bouncy balls

Post by lab-woman »

Hi Everyone,

We would like to make some bouncy balls. Have tried with pva glue, borax and cornflour, but no success. Could someone please message back with an exact recipe that is tried and trusted.

Thank you so much.

Lab Woman
whits
Posts: 11
Joined: 06 May 2008, 09:36
State/Location: VIC

Re: bouncy balls

Post by whits »

Use 50ml latex
30ml HCl or 30ml vinegar works well
mix well with stirring rod
linotas
Posts: 659
Joined: 21 Mar 2011, 22:39
State/Location: TAS

Re: bouncy balls

Post by linotas »

This is basically the one we have used. The only problem is you have to watch the ration of ethanol. It is pretty tricky to get just right and not brittle. It's fun trying though :D

http://www.sciencecompany.com/the-bounc ... -W138.aspx
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fibreweb
Posts: 620
Joined: 20 Jul 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley High School
Suburb: Tamworth
State/Location: NSW

Re: bouncy balls

Post by fibreweb »

I tried this one year when the teacher had asked about making them.

I used the recipe from Hienemann Interactive 4 but once I did I had grave reservations about the risks involved.

It uses 25mls Latex with 20 ml of 2M hydrocholic Acid.
The method is to place the latex in a beaker and slowly add the acis while stirring the solution.
You then wash the ball thoroughly uinder water Squeezing it gently so the acid is completely removed,
This squeezing actually causes the acid trapped in the ball to come squirting out in unexpected directions.
Goggles and gloves are a must and the squirts could hit anywhere
There was a marked "rotten egg gas smell" as it was being made

Once the balls were made I could see them being thrown everwhere potentially hitting someone or a window etc. :redcard:
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ELIZABETH
Posts: 233
Joined: 02 Jun 2006, 10:00
School: O'Connor Catholic College
Suburb: Armidale
State/Location: NSW

Re: bouncy balls

Post by ELIZABETH »

Prof Bunsen sells kits for making bouncy "stuff", polymers etc and they work brilliantly.
Cheers
mtg
Posts: 511
Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 10:48
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: NDSC
Suburb: west gippsland
State/Location: VIC

Re: bouncy balls

Post by mtg »

Linotas, is the sodium silicate a solution or the solid do you reckon? I did have both but I think I made all the solid up. And the latex/HCl is the recipe for rubber, a Yr 11 prac.
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Joy
Posts: 40
Joined: 18 May 2006, 10:00
State/Location: TAS

Re: bouncy balls

Post by Joy »

We have good success with the 10/10/10 bouncing ball recipe.
!0ml water/10mlPVA glue/10mlBorax powder

Joy :thumbup:
lab-woman
Posts: 66
Joined: 01 Sep 2010, 11:33
State/Location: NSW

Re: bouncy balls

Post by lab-woman »

Hi Everyone,

The teacher used the recipe on the attached "science company website" using sodium silicate and ethyl alcohol. It worked a treat and was very easy to make.

She has now done the prac numerous times over the last week and was very happy - as were the kids.

Thank you to everyone for your responses.

Lab Woman
linotas
Posts: 659
Joined: 21 Mar 2011, 22:39
State/Location: TAS

Re: bouncy balls

Post by linotas »

Sorry am a bit late to respond, yes it is the solution and YAY! that it worked :D
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