Investigating hydrogels in nappies and hair gel

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Blue-green hair gel in an opened plastic container against a black background

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Investigate hydrogels as polymeric smart materials in this series of activities using nappies and hair gel. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

In this pair of experiments, students explore the properties of hydrogels used in commonly available products – in this case, disposable nappies and cheap hair gel. The practical work is fun to do, and the results are sudden and dramatic.

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