Re: What are the ingredients of a superball.....why does it bounce so high

Well, the quick and dirty answer, from superballs patent is:-

1.) Polybutadiene
2.) Zinc oxide
3.) Stearic acid
4.) N-oxydiethylene benzothiazole 2 sulfenamide (AMAX)
5.) Di-ortho-tolylguanidine (DOTG)
6.) Bismuth dimethyldithio-carbonate (Bismate)
7.) 4 methyl-6 tertiary-butyl phenol
8.) Hydrated silica
9.) Sulphur.

The components do the following.
1.) Is the main ingredient, a rubber like compound.
2.) Is a white colourant
3.) A soap compound
4,5,6,7 Magic ingredients which increase the cross-linking
8.) Filler
9.) Vulcanising agent.

What have you made ? A rubber with very, very low "losses"- so when it is deformed, little energy is wasted in the deforming process, and as the ball regains its shape, the energy is all returned to its motion.

Even a superball loses energy, though not as much as other rubbers. If you just drop a superball onto a concrete surface, it will not bounce higher than about 3/4 of the height it fell from. You certainly aren't getting something for nothing- just more than most other materials.

Hope this helps...