Classroom Demonstrations
In cooperation with the Mid-Michigan Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), volunteers from the Section membership visited area middle school classrooms to do hands-on experiments relating to science, engineering and plastics with the students. Pairs of volunteers spend a day in the classroom with their assigned teachers. The Section provides presentation materials, such as videos and slides and any supplies or equipment, and contact information for area teachers interested in a demonstration. During the past eleven school years, local SPE and AIChE volunteers conducted hands-on demonstrations in over 350 classrooms and reached over 8,600 students. This program costs approximately $500 per year.
Below are brief descriptions of several polymer experiments that can be used in the classroom. Click on the experiment title to download the pdf file.
A good experiment to begin a session or for general discussion. Introduces the concepts of polymers and plastics, discusses natural and synthetic polymers, and introduces the ideas of polymerization (initiation, propagation and termination). Includes an activity where each student gets an ethylene molecule, and they link their molecules together to form a polymer.
This experiment illustrates the difference between thermoset and thermoplastic polymers. Students are given a sample of a thermoplastic polymer, polycaprolactone, that softens in hot water. They can mold the sample until it cools. Next, thermosets are demonstrated using two component epoxy putty’s that give off heat when mixed, and eventually harden. Finally, the student are introduced to molding by forming shapes using molds and putty, which are then baked to cure the polymer (Sculpey III).
The objective of this experiment is to identify the six kinds of recycled plastic polymers by measuring their physical and chemical properties. The students identify and separate plastics based upon their densities. Using fluids with various densities (water, alcohol, vegetable oil, and glycerine), students determine which plastics sink and float in different density fluids, and separate the plastics based on their densities.
This experiment is similar to the Plastic Identification, where the objective of this experiment is to identify the six kinds of recycled plastic polymers by measuring their physical and chemical properties. The students identify plastics using density separation and other properties including heat resistance and flammability. This experiment also introduces the concept of flow charts.
The objective of this experiment is to illustrate some of the characteristics of plastic that make products useful. Some of these properties include weight, strength, elasticity, abrasion resistance, toughness, chemical resistance, heat resistance and electrical resistance. Experiments are used to illustrate the various properties.
Please see the details on how to volunteer for this activity.
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