10 Weird & Wonderful Facts About the Chemistry Behind Making Slime

5. Non-Newtonian Fluids: The Slime Paradox

Slime is classified as a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning its viscosity changes under stress or shear force. Unlike Newtonian fluids, which maintain a constant viscosity regardless of applied force, non-Newtonian fluids like slime can become more liquid-like or solid-like depending on how they are handled. This paradoxical behavior is a result of the complex interactions between polymer chains and cross-linking agents, which can rearrange and adapt to external forces. The study of non-Newtonian fluids provides valuable insights into the behavior of complex materials, with applications ranging from industrial processes to biomedical engineering.