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Thread: Paintball shell material

  1. #1
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    Paintball shell material

    Question: What exact material are paintball shell's generally made of? I need to write a paper for my materials class and I want to do a little research on prolonging the shelf life of a paintball. I know that a large problem is that they absorb water and swell. I propose that there could be some coating put on the paintball that would prevent this or at least delay it, giving paintballs a longer shelf life. My biggest concern is environmental impact. Can't use plastic shelled paintballs because the plastic isn't biodegradable. Or at least I think it isn't.

    Anyway, I was just looking for some material data so I can get started on this. Hopefully someone here knows, or at least knows who I can go ask (Manike).

    If you're really intersted I can post the results of my paper after it's finished in a few weeks.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    msg tom "AO TOMS WORKSHOP"he makes balls LOL for real im not busting your stones

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sumthinwicked
    msg tom "AO TOMS WORKSHOP"he makes balls LOL for real im not busting your stones
    I know that Tom either still owns, or used to own Perfect circle paintball. I did a quick serch for that username and phrasing, but I didn't find anything. Can you be more specific?

    I wonder if you could put some sort of oil on a paintball that wouldn't be absorbed that would protect them from water for a while, but eventually wash away.

    Barring that, maybe some dessicant powder or something. Chalk maybe? I think I need to do some tests.

  4. #4
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    I think its made from a Polyethylene glycol. Its hardened through different stages of drying after its a coherent sphere.

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by vf-xx
    Question: What exact material are paintball shell's generally made of? I need to write a paper for my materials class and I want to do a little research on prolonging the shelf life of a paintball. I know that a large problem is that they absorb water and swell. I propose that there could be some coating put on the paintball that would prevent this or at least delay it, giving paintballs a longer shelf life. My biggest concern is environmental impact. Can't use plastic shelled paintballs because the plastic isn't biodegradable. Or at least I think it isn't.

    Anyway, I was just looking for some material data so I can get started on this. Hopefully someone here knows, or at least knows who I can go ask (Manike).

    If you're really intersted I can post the results of my paper after it's finished in a few weeks.

    Thanks!
    look on you tube, theres a short vid about how paintballs are made, it might help a little.

    here i found it for you how paintballs are made

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by FlawleZ
    I think its made from a Polyethylene glycol. Its hardened through different stages of drying after its a coherent sphere.
    Polyethylene glycol is the main ingredient in the fill (along with food dye and sometimes wax), not the shell. The shells are typically made with gelatin (like a soft capsule medicine shell).

  7. #7
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    Kind of pointless but ethylene glycol is basically antifreeze

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by geekwarrior
    look on you tube, theres a short vid about how paintballs are made, it might help a little.

    here i found it for you how paintballs are made
    Thanks for the link.

    Now comes the hard part. Finding out the material properties of a cured shell.

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