Remember Super Stuff from the 1970s? Super Stuff was a favorite concoction among kids - they loved it for its unique texture and versatility in play. This recipe is very similar to that silly, non-Newtonian fluid. Physics fun at home!
What You Will Need:
- 3/4 to 1 cup White Glue (Elmer's Glue works very well)
- 1 to 3 tablespoons Borax (available in the laundry aisle at your grocery store)
- 2 cups Water
- Liquid Water Color Paint or Food Coloring (optional)
- Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Zippered Plastic Storage Bags (for air-tight storage)
What You Do for Solution #1:
- Mix 3/4 cup of white glue to 1 cup of water in a mixing bowl.
- Add liquid water color paint or food coloring, if desired.
- Put aside.
What You Do For Solution #2:
- In a separate bowl, mix up to 3 tablespoons of Borax to 1 cup of warm water. Stir well until the Borax is dissolved.
NOTE: It is hard to get the Borax to dissolve completely, but mix as well as you can. - Set aside.
What You Do for Super Stuff:
- In a separate bowl, mix 6 tablespoons of Solution #1 (above) to 2 tablespoons of Solution #2 (above).
NOTE: This is a 3:1 mixture. You should have enough of each solution to make two batches of Super Stuff. - Stir together quickly.
As you stir, you'll notice the Super Stuff beginning to form. The mixture will start to thicken and become more solid. - Knead the Super Stuff until it is well mixed and of uniform consistency.
- Have fun! Make sure to store in an air-tight container to avoid drying out.
Variations:
- Have your children play with their Super Stuff on a tray to avoid sticking to other surfaces.
- Experiment by taking spoonful's of the Super Stuff and setting them aside. At this point, the Super Stuff is like a solid. Watch how the Super Stuff eventually flows together again like a liquid.
- Experiment to see how long it takes Super Stuff to ooze between your fingers. It's a slow moving liquid!
- Try to stretch your Super Stuff into a large sheet. How far can you stretch it before it breaks?
The Science:
The main ingredient in white glue is polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a type of polymer. Polymers are long chains of molecules that can flow past each other when in a liquid state. When Borax is added to the glue mixture, it acts as a cross-linking agent. Cross-linking occurs when Borax molecules create bonds between the long chains of PVA molecules, linking them together. Cool, eh?!
The cross-linked PVA forms a network that traps water, resulting in a substance that is both stretchy and bouncy. This semi-solid state is due to the creation of a polymer network, which has properties of both a solid and a liquid.
Super Stuff is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning its viscosity changes with the amount of force applied. It stretches slowly when pulled gently, but can break if pulled apart quickly.
This recipe is very similar to our Silly Putty recipe, but is of a much thinner consistency - it's more like "Glurch" or "Flubber".
