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The following sections give more information about different drying methods for the plastic film. Review these drying methods and try them for yourself to see if you get the same results. The goal is to find the drying method that takes the least amount of time without causing bubbles and warpage in the plastic. Can you come up with other drying methods not listed here?
The following sections give more information about different drying methods for the plastic film. Review these drying methods and try them for yourself to see if you get the same results. The goal is to find the drying method that takes the least amount of time without causing bubbles and warpage in the plastic. Can you come up with other drying methods not listed here?
Air Drying vs Dehydrator Drying
Air Drying vs Dehydrator Drying
Air Drying:
Air Drying:
-Little to no air bubbles
-Small amount of warpage
-Most samples easy to remove from petri dish
-Long drying time
-Slow drying rate
Dehydrator:
Dehydrator:
-Short drying time
-Fast drying rate
-Warpage
-High amount of bubbles
-Cracking of the plastic
-Difficulty to remove from petri dish
Conclusion: Both air drying and dehydrating have unfavorable outcomes/processes. It would be better to use a combination of the two.
Conclusion: Both air drying and dehydrating have unfavorable outcomes/processes. It would be better to use a combination of the two.
Drying by Hanging
Drying by Hanging
-Drying by hanging makes the shrinkage rate higher and the drying rate lower, meaning it shrinks more and takes longer to dry when hang drying.
-Drying by hanging makes the shrinkage rate higher and the drying rate lower, meaning it shrinks more and takes longer to dry when hang drying.
-Plastic also visually warps more when hang drying, even after only two hours.
-Plastic also visually warps more when hang drying, even after only two hours.
Conclusion: Drying by hanging is NOT a favorable drying method.
Conclusion: Drying by hanging is NOT a favorable drying method.
Dehydrator Drying with a Lid vs Dehydrator Drying with No Lid
Dehydrator Drying with a Lid vs Dehydrator Drying with No Lid
No Lid
No Lid
Dehydrating without a lid causes many physical imperfections, such as: warping, shrinkage, air bubbles. At the same time, it also has the fastest drying time, which is usually 3-4 hours.
Petri Dish Lid
Petri Dish Lid
Dehydrating with a petri dish lid diminished majority of the physical imperfections, but increased the drying time to about 30-34 hours. This was the second best lid method.
Wax Paper Lid
Wax Paper Lid
Dehydrating with a wax paper lid decreased the physical imperfections but not to the same extent as the other lids. Using wax paper had the fastest drying time of the lid methods, 26-28 hours.
Petri Dish and Wax Paper Lid
Petri Dish and Wax Paper Lid
Dehydrating with both a wax paper and petri dish lid produced the best results. This method eliminated nearly all of the physical imperfections, but had the greatest drying time of about 40-42 hours.
Conclusion: Drying with a lid IS a favorable drying method, especially drying with both a wax paper lid and a petri dish lid. The only problem is that it takes a long time to dry with a lid.
Conclusion: Drying with a lid IS a favorable drying method, especially drying with both a wax paper lid and a petri dish lid. The only problem is that it takes a long time to dry with a lid.
Air Dry and Dehydrator Combination Drying
Air Dry and Dehydrator Combination Drying
-Favorable plastic samples with very few bubbles and warpage
-Decreased drying time compared to complete natural convection
Conclusion: The most favorable dehydration method is a combination of natural and forced convection-- air drying and letting dry in the dehydrator. Typically it is found that dehydrating from 24 - 30 hours and then letting the samples air dry from there provides the best results.
Conclusion: The most favorable dehydration method is a combination of natural and forced convection-- air drying and letting dry in the dehydrator. Typically it is found that dehydrating from 24 - 30 hours and then letting the samples air dry from there provides the best results.
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