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Did you know that with a few household items you can create a moldable plastic out of milk? It may seem surprising that the liquid we use for dunking cookies, adding to tea, or eating cereal could be used to create sculptures.
Materials:
- Milk
- Microwave
- Coffee Mug
- Spoon
- Strainer
- Paper Towels
- 1C Measuring Cup
- 1T Measuring Spoon
- Microwave Safe Container
You may need an adult's help with this activity.
Procedure:
1. Add 1 cup of milk to the microwave safe container.
2. Heat the milk up in the microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. You want the milk hot but not boiling. Remove it from the microwave.
3. Add 4 tablespoons of white vinegar to a coffee mug.
4. Carefully, pour the hot milk into the coffee mug. Soon you should see white clumps form. These are called curds. Slowly, mix the white vinegar and hot milk together.
5. Pour the milk and vinegar mixture through a strainer to separate the curds from the liquid.
6. Collect the curds and place them on a stack of paper towels.
7. Fold the paper towels and press the curds between the layers to absorb any extra liquid.
8. Open the paper towels and take out the curds. Then press the curds together to form a ball.
9. Now you can color, paint, roll, or use cookie cutter to shape the curds.
10. When you are happy with your design, set it aside and let it dry.
What's Happening?
Plastic is made up of molecules that are linked together in a chain called a polymer. When the milk was added to the vinegar, a chemical reaction happened and the molecules in the milk unfold and link together in a chain to form a polymer. This polymer is called casein plastic!
This same kind of process was used to create plastic ornaments from the 1900s to the 1940s including buttons, beads, jewelry and fancy combs. Shortly after World War 2, the plastics we know today became popular and casein plastic was used less. Casein plastic is still used today and being researched for use as food packaging.
Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates the Children's Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall and STEM programs traveling to schools and other community venues across the region. The Foundation is also developing the Northern Virginia Science Center in Dulles, VA, a world-class, interactive regional science center for families, students and learners of all ages made possible through a pivotal public-private partnership. Learn more about our mission today at childsci.org and our vision for the future at novasci.org.
