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THE CHEMISTRY OF THINGS
The importance of chemistry in our day to day life
comes to us in the most unexpected examples.
Did you know that nail varnish is a true chemical recipe
when studied in detail?
If you don't believed me, listen carefully.
In addition to nitrocellulose, which was initially used in automotive paint
paint and forms resistant and long-term films, we still have a long list:
Adhesive polymers, resin based, to ensure the good adhesion
of nitrocellulose to the nail surface.
Plasticizers, embedded between the polymer chains to make the film flexible,
preventing it from cracking or flaking easily.
Pigments or dyes and bright particles
to give some colour and glow effects.
And to prevent these particles from accumulating in the bottom of the bottle,
manufacturers add thixotropic thickeners...
hum... thixotropic?
Wellů These are highly viscous substances at rest
but become more fluid when shaken.
Oh! And in good varnishes we have ultraviolet filters
so that the sun doesn't change the colour of the pigments.
All these components are dissolved in a volatile solvent
such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate,
which evaporates when we apply the varnish,
leaving a bright and colorful film on the nail.
It's to these solvents is that we owe the characteristic smell of... varnish!
Don't be afraid of so many chemicals with strange names.
In fact, over the years the biggest changes to the nail varnish formula
were introduced for security reasons,
with some unhealthy ingredients being removed or replaced,
so we can say that the current nail varnishes
are perfectly safe, tested chemical recipes.
Chemistry at your fingertips,
bringing more charm into your life!
To know more about the chemistry of nail varnish,
visit our website quimicadascoisas.org
or look for us on Facebook.