Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: chris on 19/11/2010 08:12:51
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We were asked on the radio last night why cling film clings to things.
Our suggestions were a combination of electrostatics - the cling-film equivalent of rubbing a balloon on your head and then sticking it to the wall - also the exclusion of air from beneath the film or between two layers of film, so air pressure pushes the films together and also van der Waals forces.
What does everyone think?
And why is cling film these days rubbish compared with how it used to be about 15 years ago (when it presumably caused cancer or sterility or something...?)
Chris
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Chris - perhaps you're just getting old: "Arghh! When I were a lad the clingfilm was really sticky, not like this useless stuff they have today..."