bouncing putty
Noun: A soft, elastic silicone polymer that exhibits the unusual property of increasing in elasticity when force is applied. It is known for its ability to bounce and flow slowly like a viscous liquid. Historically, it was used in the cores of golf balls and as a specialized shock-absorbent material.
This term refers specifically to a unique synthetic material. It is typically used in technical, industrial, or hobbyist contexts to describe its physical properties or applications. * Bouncing putty is a non-Newtonian fluid; it shatters when struck sharply but flows over time. * The engineer specified bouncing putty for the prototype's vibration damping components. * A popular science demonstration involves rolling bouncing putty into a ball and watching it bounce.
- As a genericized trademark: While "Silly Putty" is a well-known brand name, the term "bouncing putty" is often used generically to describe similar silicone polymer compounds.
- Many children have played with a type of bouncing putty, though they might call it by its brand name.
- Silly Putty (n): A specific, famous brand of bouncing putty, often used colloquially to refer to any similar substance.
- Polysiloxane (n): The technical chemical name for the silicone polymer family to which bouncing putty belongs.
- Non-Newtonian fluid (n): A scientific classification for substances like bouncing putty whose viscosity changes under force.
- Elastic polymer
- Silicone elastomer (in a technical context)
- To have the consistency of bouncing putty: Used figuratively to describe something that is oddly both pliable and resilient.
- After hours in the heat, the cheap plastic had the consistency of bouncing putty.
- a soft elastic silicone polymer that increases in elasticity with the application of force; used in the center of golf balls and as shock-absorbent padding