How to make glue from recycled expanded polystyrene

(Styrofoam)

Discarded polystyrene does not biodegrade for

hundreds of years and is resistant to photolysis,
thus finding ways to recycle it would be helpful
minimizing the damage caused by this material.
By turning styro into a well-functioning glue
using a few simple materials and following a few
easy steps, you reduce the percentage of
expanded polystyrene contributing to the earth's

pollution.
Orange oil contains properties that melt
polystyrene. By using orange oil and polystyrene
to make glue, you can create a more non-toxic
adhesive that not only works well and promotes
recycling, but also smells great!
What you will need:
1. glass jar with lid (preferably tight-sealing)
2. pure orange oil
3. mixing stick, or any sort of stick that can be
used to mix substances (ex. popsicle sticks)
4. styrofoam (preferably old pieces of styrofoam
meant to be thrown away)

Step 1: Preparing the styrofoam

Tear or cut your styrofoam into small pieces and place

them in a jar.
Do this in a well-ventilated area.

Step 2: Adding the orange oil

Place a few drops of the orange oil in the jar with the
styrofoam.
The amount of oil you use will depend on the amount of
styrofoam you have, though there is no exact fixed ratio.
(Hint: it doesn't take a lot of oil to melt a lot of
styrofoam. In fact, it's surprising how effective just a few
drops can be! Experiment first to see what amount of
orange oil works for you, and move on from there.)

Step 3: Mixing

Mix the oil and Styrofoam in the jar using a stick.

Step 4: Transformation

The styrofoam should be 'melting' because of the oil as

you mix.

Step 5: Finished product

When the styrofoam has completely dissolved, you

should be left with a clear-like, sticky liquid substance.
This substance is your glue!
Store it in a tightly-sealed glass jar to prevent it from
drying.

Step 6: Using your glue

The glue can be used on several types of materials. (Ex.

wood glued to metal pieces)

Have fun and experiment on what materials your new

glue is most effective on!

Step 7: Tips and Recommendations

- Make sure you are using PURE orange oil! Any additives
in the oil will prevent the glue from forming properly.
- Glue consistency depends on the amount of orange oil
you add to the Styrofoam. The more orange oil it
contains, the more viscous it will be.
- The glue should be clear and hard when dry.
- The texture of, and way of applying, the glue is similar
to rugby. Compared to rugby, the smell of orange oil is
more pleasant, making it easier to work with.
- The drying time of the glue takes longer than rugby. Its
maximum drying time can go up to 12 hours, though it is
already quite solid after a couple of minutes.
- It can be used for various purposes, such as a clear
protective coating for wood, adhesive for various objects,
and sticky sheet for catching bugs (effective because of
its lengthy drying period, thus it remains sticky for a long
amount of time). In the right quantities, it can also be
used to make figures and models because of its
malleability and shape-retain ability.

GROUP 3

S.I.P.
PROCEDURE
S
MEMBERS OF THE
GROUP:
BIANCA CARMELA G. NOBLE
DIANNE GRACE E. SESCAR
TESEA MAY G. FABRO
KERL F. TREDENTE
BENEDICT DELA CRUZ