Conductive ....... Playdough??

[frenulem - No.5417]

Yes you read the subject right, called Squishy Circuits don't be put off by the less than mature name, with a quick trip to the corner shop you can do away with your bread board.

With the two types of dough, made by Samuel Johnson and AnnMarie Thomas at the University of St Thomas Minnesota, one insulating and one conductive.You can make any circuit you wish just as long as you can remember your childhood and how to play with playdough.

You can make any shape you like, be it pig or smiley, as long as you can jab some components into it, it will work, if you manage to make it, post up your creations.

I admit not the most innovative invention ever made in the history of electronics but it sure as hell looks fun.

Here's the recipes.
Conductive dough         

250 millilitres water
240 grams flour
68 grams salt
45 millilitres cream of tartar
15 millilitres vegetable oil
Food colouring (optional)

Insulating dough          

240 grams flour
115 grams sugar
45 millilitres vegetable oil
5 millilitres granulated alum
125 millilitres deionised (distilled) water

Have fun
Fren

Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19522-homebrew-technology-electronics-out-of-play-dough.html

[HiddenVenom]

Ionised water and salt would have some free electrons to move about... I see the concept... My challenge is for someone to light an LED with this stuff.

Try not to explode yourselves

[frenulem - No.5417]

Give me a day or two to get some money and i'll try and post a vid

[FOOKz™]

thats exactly the recipe for regular playdough... high salt content is the trick... however salt isn't the best of conductors just add some iron filings into the mix or some powdered aluminum and it will be a lot better.

check the resistance of the playdough with an ohm meter