A Question for our local scientists...

[wiggin]

I'm thinking either a(n) ionic/zwitterionic/polar end of the clay polymer interacting with water. You may be familar with anionic surfactants? The polymer is probably of that type, one end is hydrophobic and the other hydrophilic, The -phillic ends sticks in the water surface and other -phobic end sticks out. The droplet gets encased in polymer so it can roll around free from 'sticking'/being wet. It's spherical due to smallest volume/surface area ratio, surface tension of the water etc n 'all that.

If you were to sprinkle the dust in water the opposite would happen. The -phobic ends would gorup up and all point into the center of a spherical mass of polymer, the -phillic ends stick out into the water, forming wiggin's colloids.

Clay isn't a polymer. Of course, it's possible there are polymer additives in Illusion's clay (I didn't look it up; still in lab working at an obscene hour, so I don't have time), but I find it unlikely that your proposed phenomenon is what's happening. It depends a lot on the ratio of water to clay, though.

edit: never mind, the product in question isn't clay. It's polyvinyl chloride. Guess we'll have to talk about the fascinating properties of real clay another time.

[icks]

Clay isn't a polymer. Of course, it's possible there are polymer additives in Illusion's clay (I didn't look it up; still in lab working at an obscene hour, so I don't have time), but I find it unlikely that your proposed phenomenon is what's happening. It depends a lot on the ratio of water to clay, though.

edit: never mind, the product in question isn't clay. It's polyvinyl chloride. Guess we'll have to talk about the fascinating properties of real clay another time.

I was just going off Illusion's post. He siad it was a polymer clay so....

As for real clay, it would be more of a lecture. I don't know much about it, par perhaps it's just an amalgum of minerals.