Gel Engineering
Testing the consistency of gelsCopyright 2022 Elizabeth Schuster, University of Texas RET
Which properties of matter work best in a particular design? In this activity, students explore the physical properties of matter and experience the engineering design process by designing, creating, and testing gels. Their challenge is to design gels to exhibit a specific property of matter, such as magnetism, conductivity, or high density. In this collaborative, hands-on activity students become engineers who design their own gels as a team.
Exploring properties of matter and how they can be used in a design is a focus of many engineers, especially chemical and materials engineers. Hydrogels are a specific type of polymeric material used in a variety of applications, including soft contact lenses, hygiene products, and medical dressings. Hydrogels may exist in future applications, and engineers often lead the way in developing designs for new and improved products.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Design mixtures so each mixture displays one specific physical property.
- Test the physical properties of mixtures.
- Describe the physical properties of mixtures.
- Analyze how a mixture could be changed and improved to fulfill a real-life application.