What Is Oobleck Used For

Oobleck is a common name for a non-Newtonian fluid comprising cornstarch and h2o. Named afterwards a substance humorously described in Dr. Seuss's classic children's story, Bartholomew and the Ooblek, the cornstarch and h2o concoction is frequently used in children's science classes as a fun fashion to learn about fluid mechanics. You lot may have fond memories, yourself, of playing with oobleck every bit a youth. Oobleck behaves as a fluid when touched gently, just becomes hard as a solid when striking with dandy velocity. For instance, a person could run across a pond pool of oobleck without getting their anxiety wet. However, if a person stood notwithstanding on the oobleck, then they would slowly sink.
Considering oobleck is a children's plaything and considering of its simple recipe (cornstarch and water), i may be surprised to learn that inventors have attempted to patent serious industrial uses for the material. As an example, one current patent application, Us 2015/0016885 (now abandoned), is for a system of filling potholes with numberless not-Newtonian fluids, such as oobleck. The patent application notes that permanently fixing potholes must frequently be delayed due to economic and seasonal reasons. Thus, the awarding provides a organization of temporarily fixing potholes past filling them with bags of oobleck (or other non-Newtonian fluids). When the purse is placed in the pothole, the oobleck has time to act like a fluid and fill the pigsty. Withal, when a auto or truck runs over it, the oobleck acts as a solid, preventing damage to the vehicle. The oobleck is easily removed when necessary, and is environmentally benign. The application suggests a mixture of two cups of water to one pound of cornstarch, simply notes that other concentrations are suitable "equally volition be appreciated past one of ordinary skill in the art."

One oobleck-using invention for which Honda Motor Company received a patent in 2011 is US Patent #seven,959,201, which discloses a gear damper comprising oobleck. Gear dampers are oft used in automobile interior applications to control the moving speed of components such every bit pocket lids, trays, and glove boxes. The dampers apply a fluid to boring the speed at which a detail gear tin motility. The patent addresses a situation in which a motorcar is involved in a crash with high g-forcefulness, wherein geared components may open themselves due to the forces present during the crash. Using a fluid such as oobleck ensures that the devices open properly when used normally, but resist opening when a swell force is involved. After all, it is bad enough beingness in an accident; the last matter you need is to have your ashtray or glove compartment open up and spill all over the identify. And does this invention really use oobleck? Aye, claim eight of the patent states "The gear damper of claim 1 wherein the damper fluid comprises: cornstarch; and, water."

 Oobleck even has military applications. In 2013, Lockheed Martin was issued United states Patent 8,448,559 for a "Vehicle Hull including Apparatus for Inhibiting Effects of an Explosive Blast." Noting "modern combat theaters require new operational doctrines to counter unsymmetrical and unpredictable threats," Lockheed has adult a vehicle hull technology comprising a non-Newtonian fluid that is lightweight, low-cost, and can be retrofitted to existing vehicles, providing them ways for inhibiting effects of explosive blasts. Claim 21 of the patent states "The vehicle hull of merits 5, wherein the shear thickening fluid comprises: ane of a dispersion of cornstarch in water, a dispersion of a dirt in h2o, a dispersion of titanium dioxide in water, and a dispersion of silica in h2o."
However, in my stance, the all-time invention using a non-Newtonian fluid may be Us Patent #vii,942,603, for a "Speed Sensitive Traffic Control Device." This invention is a speed bump consisting of a beat torso containing a not-Newtonian fluid. When a auto is moving at the correct speed, the speed bump squashes and allows the machine to pass without obstruction. However, when a automobile is moving too fast, the non-Newtonian fluid acts equally a solid and hinders the motorcar's movement. Although the patent does not draw oobleck per se as the fluid.  Rather it  suggests a mix of silica and polyethylene glycol, and it is certainly a clever plenty use of a non-Newtonian fluid to warrant mention.

Now, the next question: Who is going to be the first to patent an industrial use for flubber?

What Is Oobleck Used For,

Source: https://www.industrialsip.com/2018/02/surprising-uses-for-oobleck.html

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