Results and Discussion

For the synthesis of crosslinked PVA (slime) we use 40 ml of an aqueous solution of 8% (m/V) PVA
and 10 ml of an aqueous solution 8% (m/V) Borax, the exact values of solutes on each solution was
PVA: 3.2044 g and Borax: 0.8006 g respectively.

And the slime mass was: 84,22g.

Then in the characterization of the slime, the following results were obtained:

Pulling the slime slowly: the slime had a plastic deformation and had a good elongation respect with
the traction shown in the pictures below. The slime support approximately 20 cm of deformation
before the rupture.

Pulling the slime fast: The slime breaks up, the slime could not resist the tension at this velocity .
Drop the slime in form of ball: the PVA ball bounced approximately 17.5 cm if it was thrown from a
height of 51 cm, which corresponds to 34.31% of the initial distance. The PVA ball had a mass of
4,14 and the bounce time was 0.33 seconds.

Then with the addition of 0.5M HCl solution the slime was soluble, but when the 0.5 M of NaOH
solution was added the slime return to the solid form. The amounts of each solution were:

Number of test Drops of 0.5 M HCl Drops of 0.5 M NaOH

1 8 7
2 12 15

But the neutralization of bases produce a excess of water in the slime so in the last test the slime
remains as a solid in a viscose solution.

Since the synthesis of crosslinked PVA the physical properties was changed from the PVA solution,
first the slime acquired a solid aspect, it was not soluble in water and by the reaction the PVA
encapsulate the water inside its network of bonds, also the resistance increase and its elasticity,
because the pellets of PVA were harder but more brittle than slime, also the capacity of absorb
energy in the bounce is achieved by the network bonds. The resistance to the rupture depends on the
velocity because the bonds should be re organized, so if the traction is too fast the slime does not
have enough time to organize the bonds ans chains crosslinked.
It is important to say that the stability of slime in acid solutions is affected because by Lechateir
principle if we add more products, reagents are produced to remain an equilibrium and the same
thing for the reason of the high stability of PVA crosslinked in basic solution where the OH
consume the protons and form water, the equilibrium id shown in the following picture.
References

Ávila A. (2017). Química de Polímeros. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Juan Bosco.