Designer T-Shirt Chemistry
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it.
it.
Materials:
Pre-washed white t-shirt
Sharpie® Permanent Markers (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue,
Purple)
Plastic Cup
Rubber Band
Rubbing Alcohol (70% from the Drug Store)
Dropper Bottle or medicine dropper
Place the plastic cup inside the middle of the t-shirt. Position the
opening of the cup directly under the section of the shirt that you want
to decorate. Stretch the rubber band over the t-shirt and the cup to
secure the shirt in place.
Place about 6 dots of ink from one marker in a circle pattern about the
size of a quarter in the center of the stretched out fabric. If you like, use
another color maker to fill in spaces in between the first dots. There
should be a quarter size circle of dots in the middle of the plastic cup
opening when you are finished.
Slowly squeeze approximately 20 drops of rubbing alcohol into the
center of the circle of dots. As the rubbing alcohol absorbs into the
fabric, the ink spreads in a circular pattern expanding outward from
the center. The result is a beautiful flower-like pattern, however,
students often remark that the design looks like the colorful surface of
a compact disc.
Apply as much or as little rubbing alcohol as desired, but do not let
the pattern spread beyond the edges of the cup. Allow the developed
design to dry for 3 to 5 minutes before moving on to a new area of the
shirt.
Experiment:
You'll enjoy experimenting with various patterns, dots sizes, and color
combinations. Instead of using dots, try drawing a small square with
each side being a different color, or use primary colors to draw a
geometric shape, and accent it with dots of secondary colors. Half
circles, wavy lines, and polygons all make unique patterns when
rubbing alcohol travels across the ink.
Your designs are only limited by your imagination. Try as many
different patterns as you like. The secret is to keep your patterns small
and in the center of the design area on the shirt. DO NOT flood the
design area with rubbing alcohol. The key is to drip the rubbing
alcohol slowly in the center of the shirt and allow the molecules of ink
to spread outward from the center.
How Does It Work:
This is really a lesson in the concepts of solubility, color mixing, and
the movement of molecules. The Sharpie markers contain permanent
ink, which will not wash away with water. However, the molecules of
ink are soluble in another solvent called rubbing alcohol. This solvent
carries the different colors of ink with it as it spreads in a circular
pattern from the center of the shirt.
Additional Information:
It's important to heat set the colors by placing the shirt in the laundry
dryer for approximately 15 minutes. Teachers have also suggested
rinsing the shirt in a solution of vinegar and water as a means of
setting the colors.
CAUTION: Rubbing alcohol is very flammable and must be kept away
from any open flames or heat. This experiment must be conducted in
a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors or in a room with open
windows.
Special Thanks
Thanks to http://www.stevespanglerscience.com for providing the
experiment instructions. This activity is the creation of Bob Becker, a
chemistry teacher in Kirkwood, Missouri.
it.
Materials:
Pre-washed white t-shirt
Sharpie® Permanent Markers (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue,
Purple)
Plastic Cup
Rubber Band
Rubbing Alcohol (70% from the Drug Store)
Dropper Bottle or medicine dropper
Place the plastic cup inside the middle of the t-shirt. Position the
opening of the cup directly under the section of the shirt that you want
to decorate. Stretch the rubber band over the t-shirt and the cup to
secure the shirt in place.
Place about 6 dots of ink from one marker in a circle pattern about the
size of a quarter in the center of the stretched out fabric. If you like, use
another color maker to fill in spaces in between the first dots. There
should be a quarter size circle of dots in the middle of the plastic cup
opening when you are finished.
Slowly squeeze approximately 20 drops of rubbing alcohol into the
center of the circle of dots. As the rubbing alcohol absorbs into the
fabric, the ink spreads in a circular pattern expanding outward from
the center. The result is a beautiful flower-like pattern, however,
students often remark that the design looks like the colorful surface of
a compact disc.
Apply as much or as little rubbing alcohol as desired, but do not let
the pattern spread beyond the edges of the cup. Allow the developed
design to dry for 3 to 5 minutes before moving on to a new area of the
shirt.
Experiment:
You'll enjoy experimenting with various patterns, dots sizes, and color
combinations. Instead of using dots, try drawing a small square with
each side being a different color, or use primary colors to draw a
geometric shape, and accent it with dots of secondary colors. Half
circles, wavy lines, and polygons all make unique patterns when
rubbing alcohol travels across the ink.
Your designs are only limited by your imagination. Try as many
different patterns as you like. The secret is to keep your patterns small
and in the center of the design area on the shirt. DO NOT flood the
design area with rubbing alcohol. The key is to drip the rubbing
alcohol slowly in the center of the shirt and allow the molecules of ink
to spread outward from the center.
How Does It Work:
This is really a lesson in the concepts of solubility, color mixing, and
the movement of molecules. The Sharpie markers contain permanent
ink, which will not wash away with water. However, the molecules of
ink are soluble in another solvent called rubbing alcohol. This solvent
carries the different colors of ink with it as it spreads in a circular
pattern from the center of the shirt.
Additional Information:
It's important to heat set the colors by placing the shirt in the laundry
dryer for approximately 15 minutes. Teachers have also suggested
rinsing the shirt in a solution of vinegar and water as a means of
setting the colors.
CAUTION: Rubbing alcohol is very flammable and must be kept away
from any open flames or heat. This experiment must be conducted in
a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors or in a room with open
windows.
Special Thanks
Thanks to http://www.stevespanglerscience.com for providing the
experiment instructions. This activity is the creation of Bob Becker, a
chemistry teacher in Kirkwood, Missouri.