How does shrinky dink paper work

In short, that means they load all of the ingredients for polystyrene into a heated mixing drum, which then forces the pliable, rubbery plastic through a slot die , creating sheets that are 0.

While the sheets of 0. And here's where the true magic of the process happens. Those rollers are cooled, meaning they quickly chill the freshly compressed plastic, in essence "freezing" the plastic molecules into their stretched and flattened form. What consumers receive, then, are sheets of polymers just begging to return to their original extruded 0. When heated in ovens, that's exactly what happens. Warmed to a more flexible condition, the molecules realign themselves and return to a thicker sheet that's two-thirds smaller.

It's as if the polystyrene remembers its original form. That's why some people refer to polystyrene as memory plastic. Not all plastics shrink evenly, and that's partly because of production conditions.

In stretching the plastics, manufacturers can pull them in just one direction called axially oriented or two directions biaxially oriented. When warmed, polymers that are axially oriented shrink unevenly. Those that are biaxially oriented, however, return to their original shape without much distortion.

Shrinky Dinks require biaxially oriented polystyrene — otherwise, when shrunk, your cute cartoon characters might take on nightmarish proportions. The same properties that entice kids to play with polystyrene also appeal to scientists and researchers, but for much more serious purposes. Michelle Khine, who works at the University of California, Irving, is a biomedical engineer who has utilized the shrinking effects of polystyrene in several projects [source: UCMerced ].

It all started when she was working with microfluidics devices, which are basically computer chips interlaced with tiny tubes that serve as plumbing. With limited funding, she lacked the type of pricey facilities capable of quickly cranking out prototype devices to keep projects moving forward.

Instead of waiting for better circumstances, she improvised. She etched microfluidics patterns onto the polymer sheets and then shrank them.

As the sheets shrank, the patterns on them bulged and became more pronounced. Those etchings in effect become the minute plumbing perfect for experiments requiring cell assay or very small samples of body fluids.

Ultimately, these kinds of devices are used for important purposes. They can be designed to test for diseases inexpensively and quickly particularly in countries where medical facilities are substandard , determine drug toxicity or even help culture stem cells. Stem cells, for instance, require a lot of constant upkeep, as researchers must continually change the fluids that nourish and suspend the cells in tiny, separated chambers.

When that process has to be done for each individual group of cells, it's time-consuming drudgery. With sophisticated, interconnected microfluidics chambers created on polystyrene, the process can be completed in one quick, clever step.

That speeds up research, which in turns speeds up results. Really, any sort of science that relies on small, intricate components might benefit from Shrinky Dinks plastic. That's especially true for anyone who works with computer data storage, solar energy or other research that necessitates a lot of trial and error.

Designs are easily applied to the plastic and then they are shrunk to a much smaller size that suits testing. Best of all, the sheets of plastic are so inexpensive that scientists can change their designs on the fly and see their work in action in just minutes instead of days or weeks.

It's heady stuff for a polymer that's most popularly known as a children's toy and packaging material. From home ovens to high-tech labs, Shrinky Dinks kits aren't just a fun diversion for artsy kids and adults. They're potentially a tool to solve some of the world's pressing problems, too. Play time and serious research have often intersected. Sometimes it's the fun that accidentally leads to scientific breakthroughs. Other times, as with Shrinky Dinks, an established industry product finds an entirely new market thanks to playful, fresh eyes.

Furthermore, Shrinky Dinks are proof that plastics like polystyrene are an indispensable aspect of our current society.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. It is used to make solar cells.

It's also being used to make high-density displays and chemical sensors. Scientists who want manipulate the properties of certain materials work with nano-scale patterns. They are printed with those materials. The printing process takes time.

It is very expensive. New printing technology can print those patterns on Shrinky Dink plastic. Scientists can then shrink the plastic so they can further their nano-scale investigations.

The technology is cost effective. Laboratories can independently produce as many copies of these test patterns as they need. That's pretty crafty. There really is a Shinky Dinks kit for everyone. The Shrinky Dinks are cool i want to try one one or use one. I want to try them because you can almost make whatever you want it seems awsome. Before this article I never new Shrinky Dinks were a thing and yes i would like to try them because they seem really interesting to me.

Why is because there basically science and I like science and also because I love to draw and on these you can color. But not just that you can also cook them like cookies in the oven and I love to cook and make sweets. Shrinky Dinks are a great hack on when your bored or you just wanna do something fun. With only a piece of plastic, and a maker u can draw anything u would like.

Put it in the oven and watch it shrink. But, not only kids can do this method. Adults can too! It's a great way to get out your bordem. This is the first I have ever heard of Shrinky Dinks, but I have heard of something similar where you put a chip back in the oven then they get smaller and smaller. The technology is cost effective to the point where any laboratory can independently produce as many copies of these test patterns as they need. Crafty, no? There really is a Shinky Dinks kit for everyone.

Jesse Rhodes is a former Smithsonian magazine staffer. Post a Comment.