What happens if you put Silly String in a fire?
Warning. Because the contents of Silly String are under pressure, they can potentially combust if placed near an open flame. The contents are also flammable as they exit the can. The coolant that propels the Silly String out of the can is very cold and capable of causing instant cold burn, or frostbite, if the nozzle is placed too close to...
Is silly string biodegradable?
Does Silly String Biodegrade? Unfortunately, the silly string is not biodegradable. The incredible source of fun and popular product during birthday parties and popular holidays is not biodegradable. The exact formula for the chemical mixture inside a can of Silly String is a closely-held secret.
Is silly string bad for You?
Silly string is relatively non-toxic. However, it can leave lasting damage to vinyl surfaces such as vinyl roofs on automobiles. It can also damage the clear coat on a car, which is the protective covering over the paint. Although the final product is relatively not toxic, the chemicals used to make it could be.
What is silly string?
Silly string is a toy of a flexible and brightly colored plastic string propelled as a liquid from an aerosol can. It is a very fun way to play and a simple press of the nozzle on the top of the aerosol can result in a long string of foamy plastic shooting across the room.
What makes Silly String flammable?
Silly string is held by an aerosol can or spray, and these cans use a type of propellant to force materials out. The propellant itself may be flammable, as it can be composed of liquefied gas or another mixture.
What is Silly String made of?
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.
What propellant is used in Silly String?
chlorofluorocarbon propellant Freon 12A 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.
Does Silly String dissolve in water?
Don't make the mistake of trying to clean any of these items after the fact. All you need to dissolve Silly String and make cleaning it up that much easier is water, mineral spirits, and a spray bottle to mix them up in.
Is Silly String illegal?
In Hollywood, using Silly String on Halloween can get you a $1,000 fine. And any private establishment in California can ban you from entering if you're wearing a costume. At least that's not as harsh as Chesapeake, Virginia where anyone over 13 caught trick-or-treating can get up to six months in jail!
How do you dispose of Silly String?
The String is Garbage Wait until the silly string has dried before cleaning. It's easier to remove once dry. Dispose of string in the garbage.
Is Silly String banned in California on Halloween?
Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn recently signed a council-backed ordinance (LAMC Section 56.02) to ban Silly String in Hollywood on Halloween night.
Does Silly String Harden?
If you're unfamiliar with the item pictured above, it's Silly String — liquefied plastic compressed in an aerosol can. Point it at your friend, hit the button, and the liquid plastic comes shooting out. It dries as it flies through the air, leaving a string (hence the name) of dried plastic in its path.
Is silly string non toxic?
SILLY STRING Brand Spray Streamer, the original fun in a can, is non-toxic, non-flammable, 100% safe for children and the environment and made in the USA. It's perfect for parties, pranks, play and all-around fun.
Where can you use silly string?
Places it is safe to use: Silly string is generally easy to pull off clothing and other articles, though it can be more difficult to get it out of tight knit sweaters, as compared to 100% percent cotton items. So be sure that your clothing isn't your best dress. It also helps to use it out doors.
Is Silly String eco friendly?
Silly String is considered by some to be an environmental menace. Because it is a plastic resin, it is not biodegradable. In fact, is has been known to clog up sewer systems and as a result has been banned by a number of cities.
How do you make homemade Silly String?
Make Silly StringFill the bottle with pointed tip most of the way full with the peroxide solution.Add food coloring, unless you want white string.When you are ready to make the silly string, add a spoonful of yeast to the bottle and quickly cap it. ... Shake the bottle to activate the foam.
Does Silly String wash away?
If silly string makes contact with clothing it is likely that a small stain will be left. Some of the time, depending on the colour of the silly string, this will wash out in a normal machine or hand wash. However in some instances a stain be remain which may necessitate using a stain remover.
What is a silly string?
Silly string is a toy of a flexible and brightly colored plastic string propelled as a liquid from an aerosol can. It is a very fun way to play and a simple press of the nozzle on the top of the aerosol can result in a long string of foamy plastic shooting across the room. The environmentally cautious question then becomes, ...
What is the propellant in Silly String?
The original propellant in Silly String was hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These products are destructive to the ozone layer and the environment in general, not only explaining why they make the product non-biodegradable but also why they have been banned since the 1970s.
What makes Silly String sticky?
Secondly, you have a surfactant that makes the resin foam and become sticky and finally, you have the propellant that forces the chemicals out of the can, helping them to foam and mix as it evaporates. The propellant accounts for about 75% of the liquid inside a can of Silly String.
Why do soldiers use silly string?
In Iraq, for example, soldiers use Silly String before entering a building that they suspect could contain a bomb. Soldiers shoot Silly String across a room before entering. If it all falls to the ground, they know it’s safe to enter.
Why are silly string cans not known?
Unfortunately, the exact chemicals used in silly string cans are not known because the maker is allowed to claim such information proprietary.
Why is silly string used in modern warfare?
Secondly, silly string is used in modern warfare to identify, but not explode, tripwires.
Why do dogs vomit when they eat silly string?
This explains why dogs would vomit and have bloody diarrheas if they ingest silly string. Those that might have ulcers on their oesophageal and stomach linings , would have a hard time eating the silly string and would experience pain and a subsequent lack of appetite.
What is a silly string?
Silly String (generically known as aerosol string) is a toy of flexible, sometimes brightly colored, plastic string propelled as a stream of liquid from an aerosol can. The solvent in the string quickly evaporates in mid-air, creating a continuous strand. Silly String is often used during weddings, birthday parties, ...
What is the ingredient in Silly String?
Other ingredients include silicone fluid (to make the strands easier to clean up), flame retardant, and a pigment for color. 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, ...
Why is Silly String banned?
The use of aerosol string products has been banned in several places for various reasons, including cleanup and removal costs and fears of potential damage to house or vehicle paint.
Does the string catch on tripwires?
The string is sprayed over the suspected area, and if the string falls to the ground, no tripwires are present, since the string would catch on the tripwires (but is not heavy enough to activate the explosive). As of 2006. [update] it was being used by U.S. troops in Iraq for this purpose.
Why is the Silly String flammable?
Because the contents of Silly String are under pressure, they can potentially combust if placed near an open flame. The contents are also flammable as they exit the can. The coolant that propels the Silly String out of the can is very cold and capable of causing instant cold burn, or frostbite, if the nozzle is placed too close to the skin during use.
What is a silly string?
Silly String is a colorful liquid polymer resin that is contained under pressure within a can. Also in the can is a coolant, which serves as a propellant that shoots out a stream of resin when a button is depressed. The coolant quickly evaporates, and the liquid resin becomes solid--but still a bit sticky--nearly immediately.
Is silly string biodegradable?
Silly String is essentially a plastic , and not biodegradable. It can get lodged in sewer systems and litter the streets for months. It is very sticky and difficult to clean from rough surfaces, such as brick and concrete. In fact, there are many cities in the United States that have banned the use of Silly String in public for these reasons.
Who invented the silly string?
Silly string was patented in 1972 by the Wham-O company . Although two co-creators are listed on the patent (Robert Cox and Leonard Fish), many sources say that Julius Samann is the individual who should be credited with its discovery.
Is silly string safe for kids?
Silly String has been a common component of children’ s parties and general celebrations for more than 30 years. Despite its marketing to children and the festive ways in which it is employed, there are a few hidden dangers of Silly String that users should be aware of.
Is Silly String bad for the environment?
In the 1970s, the propellant in Silly String was a CFC compound, which has since been deemed to contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer and banned from use in the United States. These types of compounds have not been banned in other parts of the world, however, and other formulations of Silly String containing CFCs may possibly find their way onto shelves in the United States.
Overview
Silly String (generically known as aerosol string) is a toy of flexible, sometimes brightly colored, plastic string propelled as a stream of liquid from an aerosol can. The solvent in the string quickly evaporates in mid-air, creating a continuous strand. Silly String is often used during weddings, birthday parties, carnivals and other festive occasions, and has also used by the US military to detect tripwires.
Composition
Silly String is made of a mixture of components dispersed throughout a liquid solvent in the product’s aerosol can. These substances include a polymer resin that provides the string’s structure, a plasticizer to tune the physical properties of the string, and a surfactant that promotes foaming of the product. Other ingredients include silicone fluid (to make the strands easier to clean up), flame …
History
The invention of the original silly string was accidental. In 1972, A United States Patent was issued to Leonard A. Fish, an inventor, and Robert P. Cox, a chemist, for a "foamable resinous composition." The partners initially wanted to create a can of aerosol that one would be able to spray on a broken/sprained leg or arm and use as an instant cast. Their invention worked, but when it came down to packaging the can, the two had to test 500 different kinds of nozzles. Afte…
Safety
In December 2006, Tween Brands Inc., a retailer of girls' clothing and accessories in the United States, was fined $109,800 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for "allegedly distributing canned confetti string damaging to the ozone". EPA said that the product marketed under various names by the retailer damages the stratospheric ozone layer. The production and use of chemicals harmful to that layer is controlled by U.S. federal law.
Military use
Silly String and similar products have been used by the military to detect tripwires for explosive booby traps. The string is sprayed in the air over the area, revealing hidden tripwires by catching on them as it falls. The string is light enough that it does not break the wires and trigger the explosive.
As of 2006 it was being used by U.S. troops in Iraq for this purpose. However, because the materi…
Bans
The use of aerosol string products has been banned in several places for various reasons, including cleanup and removal costs and fears of potential damage to house or vehicle paint.
It has been banned in the city of Ridgewood, New Jersey, and a number of other places, and also at some public gatherings and events. The town board of Hun…
See also
• Fabrican
External links
• Official website
• Facebook page