When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D print patient-specific models, more acc
A party favorite that most everyone has used: glow sticks. Whether at a birthday party, holiday gathering, or wedding send-off glow sticks are just plain fun! In addition, glow sticks can help save lives in emergency situations, such as natural disasters; and are also commonly used by campers and scuba divers. So, we recently got to thinking. How in the world do these little plastic tubes work? If you follow our blog, by now you probably know that when we wonder about a cool science phenomena we just have to dig up the answers. That’s exactly what we did! After doing a little bit of research, here is what we learned about this no bulb, and no battery (yet fun and useful) light source.
When you bend a glow stick an exergonic reaction occurs. Exergonic simply means energy-releasing. Inside of the plastic tube there are two compartments and a fluorescent dye (which gives a glow stick the desired color). One section of the glow stick contains hydrogen peroxide, which is held in a glass vial. There are several chemicals that can go in the other compartment. One example is diphenyl oxalate. When you bend a glow stick, the glass vial holding the hydrogen peroxide breaks. And wah-lah let there be light! Okay, it probably doesn’t go like that, but we just had to. After a glow stick is bent, the two chemicals begin to react resulting in a colorful light.
Once a glow stick has been activated it cannot be shut off. You’ve probably heard people say you can put a glow stick in the freezer to revamp the light source. By doing this, you are slowing the chemical reaction by freezing the chemicals within the glow stick. You can also speed up the reaction by placing a glow stick in a cup of warm water. If you’re interested in experimenting with how temperature affects a glow stick all you need is three cups of water. One cup should have cold water, the other room temperature, and the third hot. Bend some glow sticks, drop them in the water and check out the difference in the light emitted from the sticks!
At Polymer Solutions Incorporated, we’re in the business of solving problems for the medical, manufacturing, consumer, aerospace, defense, and material suppliers industries; so a glow stick may not seem to relate to our day-to-day routine. However, it’s the curiosity behind these types of quirky questions that drive us to continue to wonder, discover, and stay eager to learn each and every day.
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