Table of Contents
What are the ingredients to make Silly String?
Made up of mostly magnesium, silicon, and oxygen, this absorbent mineral gives the resin substance, filling out the string as it expands to the size of the can’s nozzle. These two ingredients help keep the solution stable so it can last between Halloweens.
How do you make Silly String stronger?
The contents of your silly string can also be fine-tuned by a few different touches. These include adding a plasticizer, which depending on how much is added, makes the strands of string stronger and less sticky. Silicone liquid will also make the string less sticky and easier to clean up.
What did the military use Silly String for?
American troops use the stuff to detect trip wires around bombs, as Marcelle Shriver learned from her son, a soldier in Iraq. Before entering a building, troops squirt the plastic goo, which can shoot strands about 10 to 12 feet, across the room. If it falls to the ground, no trip wires.
Is Silly String foam?
Without the propellant and the aerosol can, Silly String would have no foam. At normal air pressure, the propellant in Silly String would be a gas. The high pressure inside the can, however, keeps it in its liquid state, and all of the other ingredients are dissolved in it.
What is silly putty made of?
Silly Putty is made primarily from silicone and color pigments. Silly Putty was discovered in 1943 by James Wright and introduced to the public in 1950 by Peter Hodgson. Crayola acquired the exclusive manufacturing rights to Silly Putty in 1977.
What is similar to Silly String?
Various Alternatives to Silly String
- Biodegradable confetti. It is better to opt for biodegradable confetti poppers and will give you the same effect as silly string.
- Paper decorations. You can also go for an all-paper party decoration, achieving the same results as if you had used silly string.
- Bubbles.
- Travel.
Why does Silly String smell bad?
A key component in Silly String is its aerosol spray can and the propellant that ejects the product mixture from the can. The product originally used chlorofluorocarbon propellant Freon 12 mixed with Freon 11, both part of a group of compounds that damage the ozone layer.
How far does Silly String shoot?
Soldiers can shoot Silly String, which travels up to 12 feet, across a room before entering. If the foamy string hangs in the air, that indicates a possible trip wire.
Can Silly String hurt my dog?
If a dog ate silly string, it would end up in their gastrointestinal blockage as well and would require the services of a veterinarian. When ingested, the silly string might cause ulceration, even in humans, although the effect should be temporary and should heal soon.
What can I add to my Silly String?
The contents of your silly string can also be fine-tuned by a few different touches. These include adding a plasticizer, which depending on how much is added, makes the strands of string stronger and less sticky.
What’s the best way to dissolve Silly String?
The string sets into a solid while in midair. Silly String can be difficult to clean up when the contents have been sprayed all over an area. If the string is outdoors, it can be easier to clean up and dissolve. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and mineral spirits.
What kind of string is a silly string?
Silly String is a canned aerosol streamer that begins as a liquid inside the can and comes out in a long, stretchy, slightly moist string that will stick to most substances. The string sets into a solid while in midair. Silly String can be difficult to clean up when the contents have been sprayed all over an area.
What makes silly string come out of the can?
The majority of what goes into the can of silly string is actually propellant, which is what forces the mixture to come out of the can and become silly string. It does this by causing a reaction between the surface active agent and the resin.