Tape, also known as adhesive tape, is known for its uses in sealing, binding, and attaching items. However, did you know that tape is made up of several different components, each of which plays a crucial role in its ability to stick to surfaces? The main component of tape is the adhesive, which is the substance that is applied to one side of the tape and gives it its sticky properties.

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Matches can be traced back to ancient civilizations in attempts to create fire. Matches, or something similar, were first recorded in ancient China when bamboo sticks were coated with a mixture of sulfur and other chemicals and then ignited by being struck against a rough surface. In the early 19th century, scientists attempted to develop a more convenient way to start fires. John Walker, an English chemist and apothecary invented one of the first matches, the friction match, in 1826.

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Fire extinguishers were invented by George William Manby in the late 18th century. Manby created a device that could be used to extinguish small fires. It was made of a copper vessel filled with a mixture of water and potassium carbonate. This invention could work by pressing a lever, which would then release the mixture into the fire. Before Manby’s invention, the main way of fighting fires was to use buckets of water to douse the flames.

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The average American household has 40 lights regularly changed throughout the year. Light bulbs are an essential aspect of life, and depend on them for their source of light and convenience. Yet, for many years, I have wondered what causes these objects to produce brightness. Today, I have decided to answer this question and share my findings. Unlike common belief, Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb; rather, he perfected it.

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A long-lasting question that I have had for a long time is how do sponges work? It seems pretty trivial, but it is quite valid. We use them almost every day, from our bathrooms to our kitchens. The sponge has a place in everyone’s home. And yet, people tend to know so little about them. We have all been raised to believe that an object with holes is incapable of holding liquid, and yet, here we are, facing one of the most absorbing substances, and it looks like swiss cheese.

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Rubber duckies are the bath toy we all know and love. Over the years, they have become a household necessity to help soothe every bath. However, few know the history and making of rubber duckies. In this entry, we will discuss the rubber duckies’ materials and their manufacturing process. Rubber duckies were first created in the 1800s by a scientist, American chemist Charles Goodyear when he discovered a way to turn rubber into a malleable material.

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What if I told you that right now, just with the things in your room, you could create the strongest, thinnest, lightest, and best conductor of heat and electricity known to man? It may seem impossible, crazy even, but it’s true. With simply a piece of tape and a pencil, we can make graphene. Graphene has become one of the century’s most studied and notable materials. With almost limitless applications, graphene is the key to our future.

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As a student during the pandemic, I have grown reliant on technology for my everyday academic and social tasks. From the moment I wake up to the time I fall asleep, I am almost always in contact with a device. I believe it’s quite interesting how we always look at our screens but never truly understand what they are made of. We as a society are wholly dependent on technology but don’t even understand how our devices work.

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In every transaction, payment, and order, there is almost always the use of a receipt to record the purchase. If inspected closely, a receipt is not entirely made of regular cotton paper and, most commonly, not the usual ink. Receipts are not smudged but can fade over time. Thermal receipt paper uses no ink. Thermal paper is used by a chemical reaction caused by heat. Thermal paper has between 5 to 6 layers to create this effect.

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Although I have recently been discussing the making and manufacturing of materials, the history of each is equally important. History gives a deeper understanding of the creation, formation, and evolution of each material we meet. This makes the material exciting and allows for innovative thinking to create further advancements based on past results. This specific blog post will be about rubber. Although often forgotten, rubber is almost everywhere. Used in clothes, cars, sports equipment, and daily household necessities, rubber may be found in every step you take.

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As a child Legos were one of my favorite toys. I remember begging my family members to buy me sets as a child. There was something so calming and intriguing about snapping such little pieces together and making one gorgeous and intricate structure. It was always so heartbreaking when you were finally finished playing with your masterpiece and had to disassemble your work. Although that’s the beauty of Legos, although sometimes you had to break it apart, you could always put it back together again.

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As the Corona Virus continues to hold it’s grasp on the world, many are looking for ways to keep safe, especially as new variants arrive and schools re-open. Some ways that people have worked to protect themselves and their loved ones is by social distancing, gloves, vaccines, and especially masks. In this modern day, masks are seen as a daily necessity, leaving your house without a mask in your pocket is almost unimaginable.

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When it comes to glass, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all. In fact, there are many different types of glass, ready for many different types of applications. In today’s blog, I will be discussing the basic types of glass and their less common counterparts. There are six common types. These basic compositions lead the way for the creation and use of a multitude of other different types of glass. These six basic types of glass are soda-lime glass, lead glass, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, high silica glass, and fused quartz.

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We all know glass as that solid, hard, yet brittle material that you can find almost anywhere; in the form of a window, a sculpture, or even a door. Glass has been a part of the human race since ancient times, and today we will look into the process and formation of glass. Glass is a solid object, though unlike ordinary crystalline materials, the molecules in glass are unorderly. Must often, when you look at a solid object, you will find the molecules to be in a certain pattern.

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For today’s material, I will be discussing paint. Almost everyone has had some sort of encounter with substance. Whether it is on the street, in your house, in your phone, in your clothes, paint is everywhere. Paint has been in use for over 20,000 thousand years. First made from natural materials such as charcoal, berries, and blood, paint was used for decoration or as a protective coating. Now paint has grown to be more innovative and has also gained many more uses.

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Recently I have gotten more into shopping, especially for clothes. While looking for a new outfit, I pull a shirt off the rack and check the material (50% cotton, 50% polyester). That’s when it hit me. Why am I so prejudiced against polyester? What is it made of? Is polyester good or bad? When I got home, I conducted a study and decided to share my findings with you. First, let’s talk about where we can find polyester.

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What is PLA? Recently, I have volunteered to 3D print parts for my robotics team. It started as a part or two, but now, the club relies on me for their 3D printing needs. After constant printing, I became curious, I use my printer every day, but I don’t actually know much about it. So, as an aspiring material scientist, I decided to research the materials inside 3D printers and get some answers.

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