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Slime without borax
Hey you guys. How are you?
I produce toys for kids in Brazil and one of them is SLIME. Borax is not forbidden in Brazil, but we are trying to improve the formula so that we dont have to use this ingredient. However, it’s has been really hard to find something to replace it. Do you guys know what kind of ingredient are used in borax-free slimes and that is shelf life stable? -
6 Replies
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There is no product which could replace borax 1:1 when making SLIME. You’d have to come up with something totally different with regard to the ingredients (like GLOOZE slime).Boric acid and borax covalently react with PVA, PVAc, HEC, guar gum, HPG, or whatever suitable polymer you use and crosslinks the polymeric chains to form the highly viscous toy. This is possible because boric acid is a Lewis acid with unique properties. Aluminium and iron chloride are theoretical alternatives… however, they aren’t safer than their boron counterparts.Alum, guar gum, and a base might be the closest you can easily get with halfway safe household ingredients (this is called Galacto-Slime)… that is, if you consider aluminium any better than borax. In this case, aluminium ions crosslink by electrostatic interactions more than covalent bonds. It should be possible to crosslink acidic polymers with other metallic cations like iron, titanium, zirconium, or chromium as well… toxicity still remains an issue (especially with chromium).Regarding shelf life: Add a bunch of preservatives. Mommy bloggers gonna love your products! :smiley: -
Hey there! Thank you so much for replying my post
I’m going to see if my basic formulation is stable using aluminium.
My problem with the shelf life is actually related to the stability of the reaction itself. Most of the polymers I’ve tried are unstable when I’m note using borax.
I run tests to see if the formulation is stable or not, but it’s hard to maintain everything (texture, smell, and sticknes.
There is also something about buffering the reaction right, but it’s not working with others materials.Also, do you know if the slimes made in EU, or in Canada are aluminium based? Borax is forbidden in those places, so I was wondering what it is they use.
Thanks again. <3
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Have you tried making Elmers Glue slime?
https://www.elmers.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-elmers-Site/default/Content-Show?cid=glitter-slime-recipe -
Since the ban of borax about 7 years ago, I haven’t seen Slime very often. Seems like the alternatives aren’t much enjoyed.Borax also acts as preservative, it increases pH, and functions as a buffer… it does so many things and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so hard to find an alternative. The ban was under others justified by the existence of alternatives; however, there are only alternatives for single effects but not the whole thing. Don’t get me wrong, this is regret only on a chemical level and I think it was the right decision to ban borax/boric acid.
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Perry said:Have you tried making Elmers Glue slime?
https://www.elmers.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-elmers-Site/default/Content-Show?cid=glitter-slime-recipeHi Perry!
Thank you for your help
Yes, I’ve. And it’s very good, but unstable after long periods (about 5 months it starts to deteriorate and it becomes aquous and very goey lol). -
Pharma said:Since the ban of borax about 7 years ago, I haven’t seen Slime very often. Seems like the alternatives aren’t much enjoyed.Borax also acts as preservative, it increases pH, and functions as a buffer… it does so many things and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so hard to find an alternative. The ban was under others justified by the existence of alternatives; however, there are only alternatives for single effects but not the whole thing. Don’t get me wrong, this is regret only on a chemical level and I think it was the right decision to ban borax/boric acid.
Exactly! I agree with you. The incorrect usage of borax and boric acid can cause problems.
But anyways, I liked a lot our discussion and I will try some new things with Alum.
I’ll come back to tell you
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