This presentation was performed by team TheChemist from Al-Arqam Academy under the supervision of Al-Bairaq.

1. Al-Bairaq
ARQ_TheChemistIDM14
I am discovering materials
Polymers
Hind Al Subaey
Lulwa Shahbik
Alya Kaldari
Anooud Abdul-Aziz

2. Content:
Introduction to polymers
Activity 1 : Changing Polymer Pellets
Activity 2 : Hunting for polymer Products
Activity 3 : Comparing Viscosity of polymer products.
Activity 4 : Testing for tensile strength and Elasticity
of Polymer products.
Design Project : Designing a humidity sensor.
Product idea : Shoes for blind.

3. Introduction to polymers:
A polymer is a molecule, made from joining together many small molecules
called monomers. The word "polymer" can be broken down into "poly" (meaning "many" in
Greek) and "mer" (meaning "unit"). This shows how the chemical composition of a polymer
consists of many smaller units (monomers) bonded together into a larger molecule.
A chemical reaction bonding monomers together to make a polymer is called polymerization.

4. Activity One: Changing
of polymer pellets
When water is added
to polyacrylamide, it
increases in mass
because it absorbs the
water. Thus we
observed the
properties of water
diffusion and
absorption of polymers
Activity Two: Hunting for
polymer products
After learning about polymers, we
looked around us and found
examples of polymers. We
continued to talk about them and
what are the properties that define
them. We also learned why
someone might make a product
about polymer, rather than glass or
metal. In this activity we developed
an idea of how polymers are useful.
Activity Three: Comparing
the viscosity of liquids
We looked at three different polymer
solutions to discover the different
viscosity that each liquid had. Through
this activity we discovered the property
of viscosity and it’s importance to the
different functions polymers preform. We
spread 260,000 MW polymer solution on
a thin, microscopic slide.

5. Activity Four: Testing the
strength between different
polymer films
We clipped the film and
the end of the clamp
stand. We then hung
200g at the end of the
film to test the tensile
strength and flexibility.
The test results were
observed for polymers
made from 6 different
polymer solutions ,
varying in concentration
and molecular weight.
Type of
polymer
Time The
length
at the
start
The
length
at the
end
Comments
10g 10
minu
tes
1.5cm 16cm Lost its elasticity.
Did not break.
5g 2
minu
tes
1cm 14.25
cm
Broke. Slightly
tensile. Highly
elastic. Shrank
after experiment.
1g 0.8
seco
nds
2.5cm Did not
stretch
Broke
immediately.
100 MW 2
seco
nds
5 cm 7 cm It broke. That
means it is not
tensile but
elastic.
170 MW 2.5
minu
tes
3 cm 23 cm It is elastic and
tensile. It shrank
after the
experiment. (clip
fell)
260 MW 36
seco
nds
5.5 cm 11.5 cm It is elastic and
tensile. It shrank
after experiment.
Design Project: Designing a
humidity sensor
We made non-electrical humidity
sensors using polymers, Poly-vinyl
acetate/ polyvinyl alcohol, solvent, 2
butanone and indicator, Cobalt
Chloride. We spread the solution on
a glass slide to make a polymer
sensor film which when exposed to
water vapors changed color from a
dark blue shade into a pinkish purple
color, indicating humidity.

6. Our product idea:
Polymer shoes
Introduction
Our product is a pair of shoes. There are magnetic polymers made from rubber. So
the shoes are made from magnetic rubber and the walkways/ pathways can be
provided with magnetic points made out of metal/ magnetic polymer that can align
their shoes accordingly, so it’s easier for blind people to walk on sidewalks. So
basically the sidewalk acts like a magnet and the shoes act like the magnetic material.

7. Polymer shoes
Rationale:
We feel like the concept of this idea can be applied onto many things. In
addition, using magnetic polymers is a new field to scientists which allow us to
be creative. On top of that it’s benefits to the lives of the blind and visually
impaired are unlimited. This idea will truly take polymers and Qatar to the
new level of advancement.

8. Polymer prosthetic
Polymer shoes
Objectives:
To build a prototype of our product
Use a polymer that is biodegradable
Give those who are in need something that helps make their day a little bit
easier.
Aim of work:
To make a pair of polymer shoes than are light, flexible. And to
ensure it’s purpose.

9. Polymer shoes
Hypothesis:
To make a pair of polymer shoes than are low cost, light, flexible and
magnetic.
Benefits:
The benefits of our product are that the polymer shoes are highly flexible, magnetic and lighter than normal shoes. It is a more
efficient solution than a person following the blind man/woman everywhere he/she goes. And more people would use it because it is
a more suitable for a busy lifestyle. This product could also be employed for blind athletics training so that they don’t get deviated
from the track. This gives a chance to the blind and visually impaired to play sports without the risk of them hurting themselves.

10. Polymer shoes
Method:
To make this brilliant idea we are going to use
panicnq (plastic magnet) at the bottom of the
shoe. The magnetic polymer’s strength can be
controlled so the attraction is not to strong or very
weak. Then are going to use polyethylene fiber or
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) for the shoe
and as a strong base we will use Polypropylene
(PP).

11. Polymer shoes
Results:
We found that using polymer to make these shoes do not
only help it in the magnetic aspect but overall benefit the
product as a whole. For example it makes it lighter, more
flexible and economical. It is a more efficient solution
than having someone follow a blind person 24/7 telling
them to watch out. And on top of that it is more suitable
for busy lifestyles.

12. Recommendations:
We advise researchers to further investigate this product to make it a reality and to improve it even more.
Of course there will be a lot of obstacles to overcome.
The biggest obstacle we faced was finding the perfect polymer for this job. But we overcame this problem by
researching online and asking our fellow teachers. Later we came to a conclusion of using more than one type
of polymer.
Polymer Shoes

13. Conclusions:
• We gained a lot of benefits from Al-Bairaq.
• We learned essential skills like team work, developing ideas and vital
research techniques.
• And of course we learned about polymers a topic we knew nothing about
when we first entered the workshop.

14. Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my teachers, school and AL-Bairaq team from Center for Advanced Materials
(CAM), Qatar University for supporting us during our journey with a AL-Bairaq.
Also, I would like to thank the sponsors UNESCO and Qatar National Commission.