Introduction
I chose to do my project on the chemistry of a soccer ball. There are two different compositions, depending on whether it is a professional ball or a practice ball. I chose to focus on the practice ball composition because that is more of what high school teams use. I chose the soccer ball because I have been playing soccer since I was five. I was interested in finding out what makes up the main component of the sport that has been such a big part of my life.
Composition of ...
Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components
Chemistry's Role
Polyvinyl chloride is a man-made, synthetic plastic polymer. It can be made more flexible with the addition of plasticizers, most often phthalates. It is produced by the polymerization of the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Polymerization takes up about 80% of production. Then, VCM and water are added to the reactor and a polymerization initiator. The reaction vessel will remain pressure tight to enclose the VCM. The contents are then mixed to keep the suspension and guarantee a uniform particle size of the PVC resin. After, initiators are added to start the radical chain reaction. Initiators are usually dioctanoyl peroxide and dicetyl peroxydicarbonate. Once the reaction is completed, the PVC slurry is degassed and stripped to remove any excess VCM (which they recycle). The polymer is sent through a centrifuge to remove any remaining water. After, the slurry is dried in a hot air bed and the powder produced is filtered before storage.
Cotton is a naturally occurring component that is used to make a soccer ball. It is a soft and fluffy fiber that grows in a boll around the seed of the cotton plant. Cotton fiber is 90% cellulose (organic compound). It is harvested mechanically by a cotton picker. Cultivation of cotton requires that there is a long frost-free period, 24-47 inches of rainfall, and the soils need to be heavy but do not need to be rich with nutrients. These conditions are normally met in the seasonally dry tropics and subtropics of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Cotton may also be cultivated in areas with less rainfall with the help of irrigation. It is grown annually, even though it is a perennial, to help control pests. Cotton is most often grown organically.
Background Research
Soccer balls are made with four different sections. First is the bladder made of latex to hold the air. The second part is the lining, which is made of a cotton or cotton/polyester mix. Next is the cover, which is composed of a synthetic leather, or PVC. All of these things are held together with a 5-ply polyester thread. The ball consists of 32 panels, 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal, which is essentially a Buckminster ball.
Resources
http://www.soccerballworld.com/Soccer_Ball_Construction.htm
Four main components of a soccer ball
Compounds and other materials used in the construction
Background info
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/469242/polyvinyl-chloride-PVC
Chemical Composition of PVC
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Polyester.html
Process of making polyester
http://www.kickersports.com/support.php?mID=117&sID=0&Page=1&PageName=Components-of-a-Soccer-Ball
Specifics of the composition of each component
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride
Construction of polyvinyl chloride
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton
How cotton is grown
Where it grows best
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416152/nitrocellulose
Definition of cellulose
Chemical Formula of cellulose
About the Author
Dominique is a junior at Billings Senior High. She also plays varsity soccer. She has two younger sisters and spends a few weeks of her summers visiting her dad in Texas. She plans on furthering her education at the University of Montana or possibly out of state in Texas.