Producing Fibers of Poly(viny1 alcohol) An Alternative Method Marie C. Sherman Ursuline Academy, 341 S. Sappington Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122 In the preceding article in this Journal, Rodriguez has described a method for producing fibers of poly(viny1 alcohol) (PVA) by squirting a 5% solution of PVA into acetone (I).Since the PVA is insoluble in acetone, these fibers can be removed from the acetone and used for further demonstrations. Many secondary, middle school, and elementary teachers use a 4% solution of PVA to produce Slime (2,3),and the method described here uses the ordinary 4% solution. In addition, this method is easy for teachers to perform, and has almost the same effect as the more hazardous Nylon Rope demonstration (4). However, since a fair amount of acetone is involved, adequate ventilation is required when conducting this activity. Materials Needed 4% PVA solution acetone 150-mL beaker tweezers or forceps aluminum foil, -30 cm x 30 cm Procedure Pour 4% PVAsolution into a 150-mLbeaker to a depth of about 2 an.Add a drop of food coloring if desired and mix
well. Tip the beaker slightly and pour in an equal depth of acetone, which will form a layer on top of the PVAsolution. It will he noticed immediately that a white interface of PVA forms between the two layers. Using a pair of tweezers, pick up the interface layer and pull slowly straight upward out of the beaker. Usually a strand about 40-60 cm long can he pulled out. Lay the strand on the aluminum foil to dry. Many such strands can be pulled out of the beaker, and this can be continued until the PVAlayer is exhausted. After the strands of WAdry overnight, they can be used in demonstrations or for individual experiments as suggested in Rodriguez article. For example: The strands are flexible but inelastic when dry; however, if dipped briefly in water, they become quite elastic (I). Literature Cited 1. Rad*sz, F.; carraher, C . E. Jr. c l n s m o m Demomtmtiam 0 f P o l y m r Prineiplps, Parl Y;.J. Cham Edue 1982,69,915.This ia a campanion a d & appearingin this islm. 2. Cawma, E . 2.; S a q u i s , A. M ; V m Dyke,C. H. J. Chem. Educ
1986.63.57.
3.Sarguis.A.M.JChem.Edue. 198663.60. 4. M o a m , P. W.; Kwolek, S. L. J. C h m . Educ 1959.36, 182: 530.
Volume 69 Number 11 November 1992
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