Experimentos en casa. Nieve de pañales

What are smart polymers? Can you make them with easy-to-find materials? In this video, we'll show you how to use diaper filling to make "snow" and learn about these materials along the way. If you prefer to read, here's the description: Polymers are molecules formed by the repetition of smaller units called monomers. There are natural and synthetic polymers, which are used in many materials such as paper (polymer: cellulose) and bottle containers (polymer: polyethylene terephthalate, PET), among many other applications. There are polymers with various technologies, called smart polymers, because they are able to respond to or adapt to environmental stimuli, for example, by changing color, storing heat, retaining their shape, etc. The diapers currently sold on the market use a smart polymer. The material they are filled with is a SUPERABSORBENT POLYMER called sodium polyacrylate, which is formed by the bonding of acrylate monomers. This polymer forms a gel-like network that does not dissolve in water, but has a great capacity to absorb water, up to 75 grams of water per gram of polymer. This type of polymer is known as a hydrogel.