“Fever” among children and adults, kinetic sand draws attention for its moldable texture and ability to maintain its shape. But what makes this “magical” sand behave this way, even though it is basically made of grains?
The dynamics behind kinetic sand are somewhat similar to wet sand castles built by the sea, but instead of water, the sand grains are coated in silicone oil, which keeps the modeling sand viscous and always wet.
The science that explains kinetic sand
Kinetic sand is nothing more than sand mixed with silicone oil, in addition to other elements, such as corn starch (in the case of homemade mixtures), to make its texture firmer.
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However, do not think that any type of silicone can be used in its production: it needs to be a compound rich in silicon and oxygen. This material is widely used in the manufacture of various products, from cosmetics to lubricants.
In kinetic sand, silicone is the ingredient responsible for making the sand behave like a semi-solid or rubber-like solid when placed under pressure. The silicone acts as a kind of glue that only sticks the grains of sand.
The viscosity of the sandthat is, how soft or hard it isdepends on the length of the polymer chains in the silicone oil, as this is what holds the sand together and ready to be molded.
When leaving the molded kinetic sand on the table, the structure will slowly deform due to the action of gravity, which is delayed thanks to the polymer chains in the oil. The richer in polymer, the more resistant the sand.
Thanks to the silicone, the sand grains are held together, making them only stick to each other. That’s why kinetic sand is a great modeling material, as it doesn’t dirty your hands or the surface it’s placed on.
How to make kinetic sand at home
Homemade kinetic sand has a slightly different composition than commercial sand. That’s because she takes other ingredients to make up for the lack of silicone oil — something that rarely anyone has at home.
Still, homemade modeling sand has the same characteristics as commercial sand, in addition to being very easy to make. To make kinetic sand at home, you need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of fine white sand tea;
- 2 teaspoons of corn friend;
- 2 teaspoons of liquid detergent (preferably neutral);
- 4 tablespoons of water;
- 1 teaspoon food coloring (in your favorite color)
Separated the ingredients, let’s go step by step on how to make the kinetic sand:
- Put the sand in a bowl and add the cornstarch as well. Stir until everything is well mixed;
- Add the detergent and two tablespoons of water. Again, mix everything until you start to form a more homogeneous mass. It is important that all this is done gradually, without haste, so that the sand mixes well with the other ingredients;
- Gradually add the remaining two tablespoons of water and mix a little more until you reach the desired consistency;
- Put the coloring in the mass and, once again, mix everything until the color is well distributed throughout the kinetic sand;
- let the kinetic sand dry for about an hour and a half
Once these steps are complete, your modeling sand will be ready. After use, keep the material in a covered container.
