Science Fair in Mainz

During the 16th Science Fair which took place from September 9 to 10 in Mainz, visitors could inform themselves about the researcher conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) and even give it a try.

Under this year’s motto – people and the environment – science became alive in the heart of Mainz. An intense activity was going on in the MPI-P booth accompanied by joyful exclamations: “Mommy, look there are clothes that do no longer get dirty!” or “remember, years ago we built a house” The experiments – “Superhydrophobic surfaces” and “Flowable cement” – prepared by the working group of Prof. Dr. Butt, were a great success.

© MPI-P © MPI-P

Rolling and jumping water droplets could be observed. With lotus leaves the visitors were able to see the difference between superhydrophobic, i.e. water repellent and ordinary leaves.

Cement which fluidifies when a polymer is added in small quantity to it was mixed with hands.The hare, our logo and mascot, was casted several hundred times and taken home as a souvenir.

 

Prof. Dr. Doris Vollmer and Dr. Rüdiger Berger, both project leaders at the MPI-P, together with numerous dedicated helpers of Prof. Dr. Butt’s work group showed the prepared experiments. Both are looking forward to the next Science Fair.