Elastic plasticine

Hang on, isn't that a mistake? Plasticine is supposed to be plastic. If it is elastic, shouldn't it be called 'elasticine'? No, it shouldn't.

"Star-lite", star-like material is an example of elastic plasticine: if we shape it slowly, it seems to be very plastic, it can be lengthened almost ad infinitum, and even seems to 'float' under the influence of a minimal force. But if we shape it into a ball, it is very elastic, and bounces with a minimal loss of energy, similarly to a caoutchouc ball.

This silicon polymer invented in the middle of XX c. is an example proving that the usual division of materials into elastic, plastic and brittle is artificial, especially so in the age of modern technology. Even the division into liquids and solids isn't so clear-cut. What is a chewing gum for instance?

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