The title of your project

Title

Your Name

Grade

Date

1
The title of your project

Table of Contents

Question............................................................................................................. 3

Hypothesis..4

Background Research.5-6

Materials.7

Procedure7

Variables.9

Results & Conclusions10-14

Future Direction & Real World Application.15

Resources...16

Credits....17

2
The title of your project

Question

Which leading diaper brand will absorb the most liquid in 1 minute?

3
The title of your project

Hypothesis

Based on research, all diapers brands will absorb the same amount of liquid since they use
the same super absorbent polymer.

4
The title of your project

Background Research

Have you ever heard all diaper brands promoting themselves as

the best? But, how can all of them be the best? The student researcher
wants to put this question to the test by asking; which leading diaper
brand will absorb the most liquid in 1 minute?

Based on research all diaper brands will absorb the same amount of
liquid since they use the same material.
Super absorbent polymers also known as sodium polycrate absorb
tremendous amount of liquid. This substance is used to absorb liquid in
products like diapers, and hygiene products. The reason behind this is
because of their microscopic structure. A polymer is a large number of
units connected through a link made of more small molecules creating
pores in which the water is absorbed. At the moment of contact with any
sort of liquid the polymer soaks in the liquid and swells the water until
theres no more.

The pH scale is used to measure how acid or alkali a solution is. The
reason this is important is to see if there is any reaction from the
polymer towards how acid or alkali a drink or a solution is. A pH scale
consists of bases and acids. An acid is an ionic compound that frees
hydrogen ions. Weak acids repel fewer hydrogen ions and have a more
sour taste. The more hydrogen ions, the more acid the solution. A base is
called an alkaline substance which releases hydroxyl ion. Weak bases
have a bitter taste. Urine has a pH level of around 6.3-6.6 a solution near
to that is milk which is testable. For example lemonade and lemons
would be acids while bleach and baking soda are basics.

Cloth diapers and disposable diapers are completely different diapers.

Cloth diapers have natural fibers which let air pass through, reducing
rashes. There are two types of cloth diapers Gauze, and Birdseye.
Birdseye may be more expensive, but is more absorbent and faster
drying. Gauze though is light and cheaper. Though the advantage in both
of cloth diapers is that there are no chemicals used unlike disposable
ones. In disposable diapers there are chemicals that can damage your
liver, nervous system, and kidneys which can lead to increased pH in
your urine. Disposable diapers contain sodium polycrate the absorbent
chemical. Disposable diapers cause 54% of all babies to have rashes,

5
The title of your project

and 16% to have serious rashes. 53% of the overall disposable diaper is
plastic.

A study was conducted of ALP (alkaline phosphate) which is used to help

detect liver disease. The F.D.A. (The Food and Drug Administration)
received reports from disposable diapers causing dizziness, and vomiting
in babies. Higher levels of ALP were noted in babies who used disposable
babies at age 10-11 in girls and boys 12-17. Though there was no
breakout of ALP in boys or girls until puberty.

After doing research, the student researcher stands firmly on his

hypothesis. All diaper brands will absorb the same amount of liquid
because they use the same material.

6
The title of your project

Materials

Pampers Diapers size 4

Huggies Diapers size 4

Parents Choice size 4

Measuring Cup

Camera

Milk

Pencil

Journal

Timer

7
The title of your project

Procedure

1. Gather all of your materials

2. Pour milk into your measuring cup up to the 200 milliliters mark
3. Set the diaper on your table and pour 200 milliliters on it.
4. Let it soak in for 1 minute.
5. Squeeze the diaper over the measuring cup and record the amount of liquid you were

able to squeeze out of it.

6. After this subtract this number by 200 milliliters to know how much the diaper

absorbed.
7. Repeat this process again 4 more times with this diaper brand and 5 more times

which each of the remaining 2 brands.

8
The title of your project

Variables-

Independent - Diaper Brand (Huggies, Pampers, Parents Choice)

Dependent Absorbancy of diaper

Control Amount of Liquid

9
The title of your project

Results

176

174
Diaper absorption in mililiters

172

170
Parent's Choice
Huggies
Pampers
168

166

164
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6 Average

Diaper Absorption Comparison

*Figure 1 illustrates the amount of milk the diaper brands were able to absorb in the time
range of 1 minute.

10
The title of your project

Diaper Brand Absorption in milliliters

Trial 1
Parents Choice 174 mL
Huggies 175 mL
Pampers 175 mL
Trial 2
Parents Choice 171 mL
Huggies 171 mL
Pampers 168 mL
Trial 3
Parents Choice 170 mL
Huggies 169 mL
Pampers 171 mL
Trial 4
Parents Choice 172 mL
Huggies 175 mL
Pampers 171 mL
Trial 5
Parents Choice 171 mL
Huggies 173 mL
Pampers 175 mL
Trial 6
Parents Choice 172 mL
Huggies 171 mL
Pampers 173 mL
Average
Parents Choice 171.6
Huggies 172.3
Pampers 172.16

*Figure 2 shows each trials result.

11
The title of your project

Not absorbed milliliters into diaper in time range 35

30

25

20

Parent's Choice
15
Huggies
Pampers
10

0
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6 Average
Diaper Absorption Comparison

*Figure 3 shows how much milk the diapers were not able to absorb in 1 minute.

12
The title of your project

Diaper Brands Not absorbed milliliters

Trial 1
Parents Choice 26 mL
Huggies 25 mL
Pampers 25 mL
Trial 2
Parents Choice 29 mL
Huggies 29 mL
Pampers 32 mL
Trial 3
Parents Choice 30 mL
Huggies 31 mL
Pampers 29 mL
Trial 4
Parents Choice 28 mL
Huggies 25 mL
Pampers 29 mL
Trial 5
Parents Choice 29 mL
Huggies 27 mL
Pampers 25 mL
Trial 6
Parents Choice 28 mL
Huggies 29 mL
Pampers 27 mL
Average
Parents Choice 28.3 mL
Huggies 27.6 mL
Pampers 27.83

*Figure 4 shows each trial results.

13
The title of your project

Conclusion

After conducting this experiment the results suggest that the hypothesis was correct.
There was a 1 milliliter difference between the highest absorbing brand and the lowest, but
that is not a drastic change. This proves the hypothesis right stating that based on research,
all diapers brands will absorb the same amount of liquid since they use the same super
absorbent polymer. Even though all of the brands say that theyre the best, there really not,
there is not a drastic change in absorption in either of the brands the highest brand absorbed
1 more milliliter a minimal difference to the lowest brand. It's important to note that each
leading brand that competes against each other with the same product will only be bought
at the end with a bias decision.

14
The title of your project

Future Direction & Real World Application

Future Direction

If the student researcher were to do this project again he would try different liquids,
such as juice, tea, water, sports drink and how the diaper would react to it. Another
interesting thing that he would like to test is how the diaper reacts in cold temperatures and
in hot temperatures.

Real World Application

This applies to the real world heavily, due to the fact that diapers and other personal
hygiene products (SAP) or Super absorbent Polymer. This material can absorb huge
amounts of water and is used in many circumstances, such as adult diapers, also to block
water penetration to touching power and communication cables underground, regulation of
spill and waste in landfills. Accepta 4302 is a form of a super absorbent polymer that is
being used to retain huge amounts of water in soil, and nutrients. This is highly efficient
because it reduces irrigation costs up to 50%, reduces evaporation from soil, retains up to
500 times its own weight, and is nontoxic.

15
The title of your project

Works Cited

"ALP." : The Test. https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alp/tab/test/ 2001.

Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

Gardner, Robert. Water. Melrose Park: Lake Book Manufacturing,Inc., 2011. Print. Harris,
Elizabeth. First Place Science Fair Projects for Inquisitive Kids. New York City:
Sterling, Inc, 2005. Print.

"PH -- Water Properties." http://water.usgs.gov/edu/ph.html PH: Water Properties, from the

USGS Water-Science School. Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

Port, Tami, and Alicia Cepaitis. "What Is the PH Scale? Acidity, Alkalinity & Buffers.".
http://www.scienceprofonline.org/chemistry/what-is-ph-scale-acidity-alkalinity.html
Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

Pytlik, Erin, Daryl Molino, and Joseph Mortiz. "Super Absorbent Polymers.".
http://wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu/ce435/Diapers/Diapers.html. Web. 3 Nov. 2015

"Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP)."

http://community.nsee.us/concepts_apps/compu_anime/SAP_V18_031708.swf Web.
3 Nov. 2015.

Tanacredi, John T., and John Loret. "PH." Experiment Central. Illustrated ed. Vol. 3. Ann
Arbor: Gale Group, 2000. 477-489. Print.

"The Only Way to Change Diapers Is One Baby at a Time. Real Diaper Association."
http://realdiapers.org/diaper-facts Real Diaper Association. 14 May 2015. Web. 3
Nov. 2015.

Turan, Serap et al. Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Levels in Healthy Children and
Evaluation of Alkaline Phosphatasez-Scores in Different Types of Rickets. Journal
of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology 3.1 (2011): 711. PMC.
Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

"What Are Polymers?" http://matse1.matse.illinois.edu/polymers/ware.html What Are

Polymers? Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

What I Wish I Had Known About Cloth Diapers - Small Notebook."

http://smallnotebook.org/2012/08/12/what-i-wish-i-had-known-about-cloth-diapers/Small
Notebook. 12 Aug. 2012. Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

Yaung, J;Chen, B.J. Criswell, and F.L. Buchholz. "Super Absorbent Polymer- Sodium Polycrate."
http://ncsu.edu/project/chemistrydemos/Organic/Superabsorbent.pdf NCSU. Web. 3 Nov.2015.

16
The title of your project

Credits

The student researcher would like to thank everyone that helped him during his experiment
especially his mom who helped him buy the materials, and take the pictures, his brother
who also took some of the pictures, and his cousin for helping during the experiment and
become a better presenter.

17