Sodium tetraborate for slime

Just a few years ago, a toy called "slime" gained popularity again. There are thousands of different slimes on sale now. They are bright, and everyone can choose them according to their taste. However, a truly suitable toy can only be made if it is made on its own. Sodium tetraborate is an important component of slime in most cases. It is he who gives the toy that very characteristic viscosity. Everything about how to purchase sodium tetraborate, and how to make slime with this substance, will be discussed in the article.

Sodium tetraborate is the sodium salt of boric acid. Chemical formula - Na2B407. The drug looks like a white powder. It dissolves well in water. Most often it is used not for making slime, but for medical purposes. This is why this slime thickener is available over the counter. You can find names such as borax or borax.

Sodium tetraborate is also used to obtain boron, in the production of detergents and other chemicals, in the production of a number of building materials. Some manufacturers use it as an ingredient in various cosmetics. Because of its antiseptic properties, borax is used as a preservative. Sodium tetraborate fight insects (cockroaches).

This salt thickens liquids well. Therefore, children use powder to make slime. The substance binds together the molecules of the polymers that make up the lizun. In such a context, the antiseptic properties of sodium tetraborate are advantageous.After all, it is for children's toys that this is most desirable. Its advantage is a quick effect, as well as good compatibility with other components of the slime.

One bottle of 30 g of powder can cost about 30 rubles. However, you can find a remedy in the form of a glycerin solution. The cost will also not be high.

One of the advantages of using borax in the manufacture of slimes is its low consumption. Regardless of what proportions were in the other components of the slime, the consumption is a few drops for each toy. This consumption is relevant for a glycerin solution. As for the powder, for one toy it is enough to dissolve a couple of grams of powder in water.

This recipe is the easiest one to make at home. Slime is prepared from ingredients such as water, PVA glue and sodium tetraborate. Pour a tube of glue into the container, then begin to dilute with water, bringing the mixture to a not quite liquid state. Next, you need to gradually add the drug until the mixture thickens and acquires the consistency of a slime. Color can be added if desired. Water is added in about the same volume as the glue.

You can also make a transparent slime from office glue with your own hands. The preparation of this toy is similar to the process described above. However, after thorough mixing, the slime is not transparent, but cloudy.

For this recipe you need shaving foam, glue (preferably PVA) 1 tube, borax, dyes of your choice and liquid soap. First you need to mix the glue with shaving foam, then pour water and liquid soap into the mass in the same amount (usually no more than 1 glass). After everything is mixed, add a few drops of sodium tetraborate. Now the mass is kneaded until it acquires the appearance and consistency of a finished slime. As a result, you can get an airy slime. This effect is achieved due to the fact that bubbles are released as a result of a chemical reaction.

This type of slime is one of the most unusual ones that you can make at home. Obviously The main ingredient in this recipe is magnetic shavings. And you also need PVA glue (1 bottle), shaving foam (1 glass) and a thickener. The glue and foam are mixed first. Then glitter or dye is added. Then comes the turn of the magnetic chips and thickener. The finished toy will be attracted to a nearby magnet or any metal particles. The magnetic chips can be replaced with iron oxide in powder form.

In rare cases, sodium tetraborate can violently react with any component of the slime during the manufacture of a toy.

If you added too much borax and the slime is hard, then it will be enough to add more glue, or you can heat the mass and dilute with water.

An important point in the process of making a slime and then playing with it is a technique or safety rules. As a part of slime, sodium tetraborate, as a rule, does not irritate the skin.

But the agent is much more dangerous in powder form than in the form of a glycerin solution. Speaking of powder, it is worth noting that inhalation and ingestion should not be allowed. In contact with mucous membranes, it causes irritation. Avoid contact with damaged skin.Even if it comes into contact with healthy skin, it can cause allergic reactions. You should try to exclude contact with the powder. This is especially true for children - their skin is too sensitive.

As already mentioned, borax in slime does not irritate the skin. On contact with mucous membranes, an allergic reaction is possible only in rare cases.

To prevent such cases, special edible slimes are made, and sodium tetraborate is not added to them.

The main safety rules when interacting with borax in any form (in the form of a powder, in a glycerin solution and as part of a slime) are the following points.

1. Try not to let the substance get into the eyes in any form, including in the composition of the slime.

2. As already mentioned, the substance should not be ingested. And it is also forbidden to lick the substance or slime, chew in the mouth, and so on.

3. If you are making an edible slime, then, as already mentioned, sodium tetraborate cannot be added to it.

4. The substance in powder form must be diluted in a separate container. After preparing the slime, it is not recommended to use the container as a dish for eating.

5. It is best to work with the substance with gloves. If they were not there, then after interacting with it, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water under running water.

6. If there is an intolerance to this substance, then any subsequent contact with it in any form should be excluded.

7. After playing with the ready-made slime, wash your hands under running water and with soap.

It is worth remembering that after the expiration date, tetraborate becomes less active and begins to gradually lose its properties.

Replacing sodium tetraborate is necessary if it was not possible to purchase the substance, or if even after adding the slime was not thick enough.

You can not only use it as an analogue of borax, but also add washing gel instead. The most famous brands of washing gel are Persil and Pervol.

And also the use of starch and icing sugar is allowed. They need to be added until the desired consistency is obtained, starting from 1 tsp. Another unusual, but effective analogue is a liquid for lens care.

For edible slimes, flour is the thickening agent. When using flour, it is advisable to use dyes. The reason for this is that flour can give the slime a not very pleasant white-gray tint.

And you can also replace borax and baking soda, which almost everyone has at home. However, this substance has a minus - slime with soda will set for a relatively long time. Soda should be added gradually, and mix the mass each time after adding for about 3 minutes.

In some recipes, you can, in general, not add borax or its analogues. You just need to mix the ingredients together and put the mass in a water bath. While stirring slightly, you need to wait until a sufficient amount of moisture has evaporated and the mixture thickens to the desired consistency. This method works especially well with slime, where the main component is shower gel. This process is not entirely safe and should only be done by adults.

For interesting information on thickeners that can be used in place of sodium tetraborate for making slime, see the following video.