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.