Did you know?Dirt is not only an environment for plants to grow in, but it is also an interesting material that can be used to make all sorts of interesting things, such as styrofoam. Styrofoam is a lightweight, porous, and elastic substance that is commonly used to fill toys, mats, mattresses, etc. The raw material of styrofoam is usually a synthetic chemical, but did you know?You can also make styrofoam from clay, and it's pretty simple. This article will show you how to make styrofoam from clay and the mysteries of clay.
To make styrofoam from clay, you just need to prepare a few things:
Some dry soils are preferably red or yellow, as these colored soils contain more iron and silicon, which is conducive to the formation of foaming gum.
Some water, which is mixed with the soil to make a slurry.
Some yeasts, which are used to ferment the slurry, produce carbon dioxide gas, which makes the slurry swell.
Some baking soda is used to neutralize the acidity in the mud and improve the stability of the mud.
A large bowl for the mud.
A microwave oven that is used to heat the slurry and allow it to solidify into styrofoam.
The specific steps are as follows:
Put the soil in a large bowl, add the right amount of water, and stir well to make it a thick slurry.
Sprinkle the yeast on the surface of the slurry and stir gently so that it is evenly distributed in the slurry.
Place the bowl in a warm place and allow the yeast to ferment, producing carbon dioxide gas that expands the mud. This process takes about a few hours, and you can insert a toothpick into the mud to see if any bubbles emerge, and if there are, the mud is ready to ferment.
Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the puree and stir gently so that it is evenly distributed in the puree. This neutralizes the acidity in the slurry, improves the stability of the slurry, and prevents the slurry from collapsing when heated.
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat over high heat for a few minutes until the mud turns into a hard, foaming gum. You can use a toothpick to insert styrofoam to see if it dries, and if it does, the styrofoam is ready.
Remove the styrofoam from the bowl and place in a flat place to allow to cool. You can use scissors or a knife to cut the styrofoam into your preferred shape, or paint it in your preferred color.
Congratulations, you've made styrofoam out of clay!You can use it to make all sorts of fun things, such as toys, decorations, gifts, etc. You can also use it as an experimental material to observe its properties, such as weight, density, elasticity, thermal conductivity, etc.
You may wonder why clay can make styrofoamThis is because clay contains some special components, such as iron and silicon, which can undergo a chemical reaction when heated to form a substance similar to glass calledClay glass。Clay glass is an amorphous solid, its structure is not regular like crystals, but disordered like liquids, but it has a high viscosity, so it does not flow, but maintains a fixed shape. The characteristic of clay glass is that it has a low melting point, so it can be heated in a microwave oven, and it has a high coefficient of expansion, so it can hold a lot of bubbles, thus forming a porous structure.
The production method of clay glass is very simple, only need to heat the clay containing iron and silicon to a certain temperature, and the iron and silicon in the clay can be chemically reacted to form clay glass. This temperature is usually between 600 and 800, and the temperature in this range is calledThe softening temperature of the clay glassAt this temperature, the viscosity of clay glass is very low, so it can be easily deformed, and it can hold a lot of bubbles, thus forming a porous structure. If the temperature exceeds 800, the viscosity of the clay glass becomes very high, so it becomes very hard and the bubbles disappear, resulting in a dense structure. If the temperature is below 600, the viscosity of the clay glass becomes very low, so it becomes very soft and the bubbles escape, forming a collapsed structure. Therefore, to make styrofoam, it is necessary to control the temperature so that it is within the softening temperature range of clay glass.
The principle of making clay glass is very simple, but it has a wide range of applications, such as architecture, art, archaeology and other fields. One common application of clay glass is:Clay glass bricksIt is a kind of brick made of clay glass, usually used for the walls or floors of buildings, its advantages are that it is lightweight, good thermal insulation, and can transmit light, so it can save energy, and can increase aesthetics. The method of making clay glass bricks is similar to that of styrofoam, except that the shape is controlled by a mold and heated at a higher temperature to form a dense structure. A special form of clay glass brick is:Clay glass mosaicIt is a small piece made of clay glass of different colors, spliced into various patterns, used to decorate walls or furniture, its advantage is that it is rich in color, and it can reflect light, so it can increase the shine.
Another common application of clay glass is:Clay glass artIt is a kind of artwork made of clay glass, usually used for display or collection, its advantage is that it has a variety of shapes, and can show different textures, so it can show the artist's creativity and skills. Clay glass art is made in a similar way to styrofoam, except that more colors and materials are mixed and heated at a lower temperature to form a collapsed structure. A special form of clay glass art is:Clay glass sculptureIt is a sculpture made of clay glass, usually used to represent the image of people or animals, its advantage is that it is rich in details, and it can show different emotions, so it can show the sculptor's thoughts and emotions.
Another common application of clay glass is:Clay glass archaeologyIt is a kind of archaeological research made of clay glass, which is usually used to explore the history and culture of ancient civilizations, and its advantage is that it is well preserved, and it can reflect the life and technology of ancient people, so it can provide valuable information. The research method of clay glass archaeology is different from the production method of styrofoam, which is to determine its age and **, as well as its use and significance through the analysis and identification of clay glass. An important finding in clay glass archaeology is:Earthen glass beadsIt is a kind of bead made of clay glass, usually used to make necklaces or bracelets, as a decorative or exchange object, it is characterized by its different shapes and colors, and can show different cultures and styles, so it can reflect the aesthetics and values of ancient people.
Through this article, you have learned how to make styrofoam from clay and the mysteries in clay. You can use clay to make all kinds of interesting things, such as toys, decorations, gifts, etc., or you can use clay glass to enjoy art, explore history, and learn Xi science. Clay is an ordinary material, but it has an incredible charm, and if you have enough imagination and creativity, you can do endless things with it.
What do you think about how to make styrofoam from clay and the mysteries in the clay?Have you ever tried making styrofoam or something else interesting out of clay?Are you interested in dirt glass?You are welcome to leave a message in the comment area, share your thoughts and experiences, and interact with other readers. You are also welcome to pay attention to my Baijia account, and I will continue to bring you more popular science content, so that you can find more wonder and fun in the world of science. Thank you for reading and look forward to your reply!