This experiment for recycling of polymers is suited well for the christmas time.
Chemicals/apparatus
- hotplate
- cookie cutters of metal
- aluminum foil
- transparent CD cover of polystyrene (PS)[1]
Warning
Little amounts of styrene may be evolved. Work outside or in a fumehood.
Experimental
A hotplate is covered with aluminum foil and set to 200°C. The cookie cutters are placed on it. A CD cover is broken into small pieces.
The pieces are put into the cookie cutters. After about 90 minutes there should be a more or less even melt.[2]
The foil with everything on it is put aside and let cool down. The cutters and the foil are removed after that. Here you can see the product:[3]
Christmas ornaments from recyceled plastics!
Remarks
[1] You can use other polymers such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). The product will not be transparent then.
[2] More patience results in a nicer product. Temperature could be even lower then.
[3] You can add other types of polymers or the same type of a different color into the melt to obtain more interesting objects.
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
