The Beauty of Polymer Clay
Meriliis Kuuslap (form 10)Margred Kõima (form 10)Indrek Virro (form 11)
Tartu Karlova GymnasiumEstonia
2009
Xperimania II
The Idea of the Project
The idea was formed after we had made
some ornaments, having used polymer
clay (“Fimo”). What do we know about
the properties and composition of
“Fimo”? How is it possible to apply that
material? These were the respective
questions.
What is “Fimo”? “Fimo” is a name for a brand of polymer clay made by
Eberhard Faber. According to information by Eberhard
Faber, “Fimo” contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which
is a widely used thermoplastic polymer. It can be made
softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticizers,
the most widely-used phthalates.
Testing Polymer Clay’s Properties IDemo-experiment: pyrolysis of
PVC-based polymer clay (“Fimo“)
To see what happens when “Fimo” is overheated, it is necessary to do an experiment. When pyrolysing polymer clay “Fimo”, among the products might be unsaturated hydrocarbons and hydrochloric acid.
MaterialsSodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
Potassium permanganate (KMnO4)
Universalindicator
Polymer clay “Fimo”
Laboratory Equipment
Burner
Pipette
Stand
Test tubes
Corks
Rubber hose
Testing unsaturated hydrocarbons
On the left photo pink KMnO4
solution.
On the right photo decoloured KMnO4
solution.
KMnO4 oxidizes alkenes, the reaction decolourises the solution.
Solid Products of Pyrolysis
Char
Testing hydrochloric acid
Universal indicator has changed its colour
The product is very acidic: pH 1,0
The Conclusion
By pyrolysing polymer clay we identified the products: unsaturated hydrocarbons, char and hydrochloric acid.
If “Fimo” is overheated there may appear irritating or toxic products
Testing Polymer Clay’s Properties II: Hands-on
Acitvity
When we were making the ornaments we acknowledged several properties of “Fimo”
We chose cornflower for Xperimania experiment because it is the national flower of Estonia
In the warmth of human hand, the polymer clay changes into soft and
plastic material.
Polymer Clay Cornflower
“Fimo” is Easily-modelled
Designing cornflower…
“Fimo” is absolutely cuttable.
Baking in an oven, at 110° C for ~20 min., “Fimo” hardens.
Baking
So the ornaments with cornflower were
formed
The Beauty of Polymer Clay
Interaction of polymer clay with different
surfaces
Timber Ceramic Glass Metal
In the course of the project “Fimo” obtained a new
meaning for us:
F – find &
I - investigate
M - materials’
O - originality
Thank you for your
attention.