Feb 22, 2021
100 Nano-Stories: I Made Starlite!
Episode #33: The Ingredients & The Process!
Preface! → ✨
It’s your favorite material science & nanotechnology enthusiast reporting back for another article! I created my own Starlite, which is a high thermal-insulating material like aerogel! If you’re interested in what Starlite really is, check out my article on the history of Starlite!
But for today, I will describe the ingredients & the process to create your personal high-insulating material with only 3 ingredients! But make sure to wear your safety goggles or your parents might respond with. . .
Ingredients! → 💣
To create Starlite, all you need is 3 ingredients:
- Elmers School Glue (1 gallon)
- Corn Starch (The brand doesn’t matter)
- Baking Soda (The brand doesn’t matter)
Depending on the amount of Starlite that you want to create, you will use more of the ingredients. I used a whole metal pan, but I will list out the average amount for a medium-sized piece of Starlite.
Start by adding two cups of corn starch.
Next, add 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Make sure to mix thoroughly with the corn starch in preparation for the glue.
Finally, add the glue to the mixture. Depending on how thick you want the Starlite, add more glue to the mixture. Make sure to not add a lot of glue at once, otherwise, it gets sticky for you to be able to mix.
Once we add the glue, you can begin to mix it either with a spoon or with your hands to create the clay mixture, which will eventually result in Starlite.
If you added too much glue at the beginning, all you have to do is add a bit of corn starch to allow the glue to mix and create the clay mixture of Starlite.
The final result will look like this:
Closing Thoughts! → 💭
I understand, reader, this was not the best of articles, but there is a reason why! I want to explain the important part of blackbody radiation, which would happen if I were to add a flame to the Starlite material!
But I won’t spoil anything! You’ll have to wait & see what I cook up! :)
Previous “100 Nano-Stories!” → 🔖
© 2021 by Carlos Manuel Jarquin Sanchez. All Rights Reserved.
