WACKER first produced an experiments kit for broad, general use early in 2005. It proved so popular that the chemical manufacturer has now released a new, revised version. WACKER has produced a total of 2,300 kits for free distribution to teaching staff at universities, high schools and vocational colleges.

“Every year, government and industry invest huge sums in R&D for new products. But just spending money is not enough. To maintain our leading position in research, we badly need young scientists – motivated youngsters who enjoy discovering and inventing new things,” says Dr. Staudigl, explaining the reasons for the Munich chemical company’s initiative. “Our revised kit is intended to awaken young people’s interest in chemistry.”

The kit comprises a wide selection of materials and experiments relating to silicones and cyclodextrins. The experiments kit is equipped with all the materials that teachers and students need to carry out about 20 chemical experiments. All the experiments and the underlying theoretical principles are clearly explained in an illustrated manual. Special emphasis has been placed on practical relevance and understandability.

One special feature is “bouncing putty.” This silicone polymer acts like an elastic solid when a force is applied. But at rest, it becomes a viscous fluid and flows like a gooey mass. The bouncy putty highlights silicone’s wide viscosity range and extraordinary versatility.

Silicones have an exceptional standing among plastics, having the characteristics of both organic and inorganic materials. Their versatile properties have made them the basis of many materials with highly diverse properties and almost unlimited applications. Silicones are used in a broad variety of industries ranging from the automotive, chemicals and construction sectors, through consumer care, cosmetics, metal processing and mechanical engineering to paper, pulp and textiles.