Project CLVE: Chemical Laboratories with Video Enhancement Presents:
Making Charity Bracelets
| Making Charity Bracelets started with the yellow Lance Armstrong one with the hope to raise $5 million for his foundation. More than 21 million have been sold as of 2/2005. Now there are many colors representing various charities: |
| blue: Anti-bullying, anti-Bush, tsunami relief |
| pink: breast cancer |
| red: heart-disease, vote Bush, HIV |
| purple: cystic fibrosis, lupus, domestic violence |
| green: ecology, leukemia, organ donor |
| black: mourning, melanoma |
|
Most of these are made out of
silicone. The bracelets described in the movie here are made out of
a polymer called a thermoplastic elastomer. This means the elastic
property of the bracelet is a rubber formulation and a plastic component
is embedded into the rubber. The plastic acts as a crosslinker for the
rubber. As the polymer is heated to make the bracelets, the plastic melts
and then the polymer can be injected into a mold to make a bracelet. For
more information about thermoplastic elastomers go to:
the macrogalleria Thermoplastic elastomers are in all kinds of products you see and use everyday. They have a very comfortable, elastic, and smooth feel. Here are some examples: cell phones, toothbrush handles, shoe inserts, razor handles, seals on containers, car mats, swim fins, computer cables, ear plugs, pen grips, medical tubing, spatulas, knife handles, radio earphones, door handles, and more. |
Making a Charity Bracelet: Movie (This movie is about 9.5 MB.)