Silly Putty
It was originally created during research into a potential rubber substitute for use by the United States in World War II.
It bounces when dropped from a height, but breaks when struck or stretched sharply; it can also float in a liquid and will form a puddle given enough time.
[5] The original coral-colored Silly Putty is composed of 65% dimethylsiloxane (hydroxy-terminated polymers with boric acid), 17% silica (crystalline quartz), 9% Thixatrol ST (castor oil derivative), 4% polydimethylsiloxane, 1% decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane, 1% glycerine, and 1% titanium dioxide.
[6] Silly Putty's unusual flow characteristics are due to the ingredient polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a viscoelastic substance.
[7] Because its apparent viscosity increases directly with respect to the amount of force applied, Silly Putty can be characterized as a dilatant fluid.
[citation needed] During World War II, Japan invaded rubber-producing countries as it expanded its sphere of influence in the Pacific Rim.
Rubber was vital for the production of rafts, tires, vehicle and aircraft parts, gas masks, and boots.
[11] Credit for the invention of Silly Putty is disputed[12] and has been attributed variously to Earl Warrick[3] of the then newly formed Dow Corning; Harvey Chin; and James Wright, a Scottish-born inventor working for General Electric in New Haven, Connecticut.
[11][15][16] Both researchers independently discovered that reacting boric acid with silicone oil would produce a gooey, bouncy material with several unique properties.
The non-toxic putty would bounce when dropped, could stretch farther than regular rubber, would not go moldy, and had a very high melting temperature.
Initial sales were poor, but after a New Yorker article mentioned it, Hodgson sold over 250,000 eggs of silly putty in three days.
[22] A number of other brands (such as Power Putty and TheraPutty) alter the material's properties, offering different levels of resistance.
The material is also used as a tool to help reduce stress, and exists in various viscosities based on the user's preference.
