Preventing common chemical reactions & Composites

1. Preventing common chemical reactions& Composites By Elisa Truell and Lisa Schweikert

2. So, Your Book is Crumbling? • Since the nineteenth century books have used alum (aluminum sulfate) to stop the ink from soaking into the paper. This causes the books to have high acidity which in turn makes them crumble at the touch. • Originally books were made from rag paper, but in the 1850s, the demand for books increased drastically. They began to use wood pulp because it was cheaper. Thus, alum was introduced cutting down the absorbency of the wood pulp paper.

3. The Deacidification Process • Chemists have been working to find a solution to stop the crumbling of books. • Mass deacidification- this occurs in a vacuum chamber where the gas diethyl zinc is pumped in and the moisture is withdrawn from the book. The gas seeps through the pages of the books and gets rid of any and all acids. The gas also creates zinc oxide which protects the book from any further acid. Books can be treated at an estimate of $6-$10. • If the pages of books are brittle and beyond repair there is a process known as, microfilming, that saves the words.

4. Types of Fires • Fire, or combustion, happens when fuel reacts with oxygen. • There are four types of fires: -Class A: When there is a solid fuel such as, wood from a house, that fuels the fire. -Class B: When the fuel is a liquid or a gas. -Class C: When a fire contains an energized electrical circuit. -Class D: When metal is burning.

5. Extinguishing Fires • There are three ways to stop a fire: 1.) Cooling the fuel 2.) Cutting off the oxygen 3.) So they can’t react with oxygen, trap the combustion intermediates. • Class A: Extinguish with water or baking soda (if the flame is small. • Class B and Class C: Water can often spread the fire when it’s a Class B and the salt in fire extinguishers can cause the fire to conduct electricity. So, when extinguishing a Class B and Class C fire, use a carbon dioxide extinguisher that cuts off the oxygen. • Class D: Use dry powder agents that will smother the fire.

6. Review • What is the process that causes the deterioration of books? A.) Mr. Sweeten spilled juice on them B.) A Class A fire burned them C.) The alum caused the books to have high acidity D.) Yo mamma spit on them

7. WRONG

8. What are Composites? • You may not realize, but you see composites everyday. • Composites are light in weight and lighter than most materials. They are made when fibers, such as nylon, are imbedded into a plastic base. • Because of the strength of the fibers, composites are strong but extremely light.

9. Where do I see Composites? • Composites are used on the bodies of cars. • This is beneficial because composites can absorb vibrations making car rides smoother. Also, the car weighs less there, it needs less gas. Since it is stronger, the car offer better protection for the people in the car and the car doesn’t rust. • Other common composites are: Fiberglass, lumber, tennis rackets and baseball bats

10. Review • What type of synthetic fabric is used to make composites? A.) Plastic B.) Nylon C.) Lead D.) Mercury

11. How Much Do You Remember? Which One Doesn’t Belong? Book Deterioration Fires Composites Use sodium chlorate to extinguish a Class A. Use Mass Deacidification to reverse this An example of the fibers is Nylon. The most commonly known composite is cupcakes. The acidity of the paper caused this There are four different types of classes Aluminum Bicarbonate is the reason for high acidity Class C is caused from an electrical circuit. Composites are made from embedding fibers into plastic.

12. Homework • Research another common composite and what it does! Is it good? Is it bad? Do you use it often? Tell us about it!