better ink?
Considering that the most common Google search terms that end up here are combinations of "tattoo" and "chemistry," I think I'd definitely be remiss in not mentioning Freedom-2 ink. It's designed to be either temporary--fading after a certain amount of time--or permanent but easily removable. With conventional inks, laser removal procedures usually require several treatments and can scar.[1] Freedom-2 ink is encapsulated within poly(methylmethacrylate) beads and is bioabsorbable. (I think I saw B-carotene listed somewhere, maybe? Wish I knew what they were using.) The idea is that the capsule bursts when hit with the laser, and the pigment fades as it is absorbed. (There's a link to a video in the right sidebar of the company's site, if you want to watch.) For the temporary inks, the polymer capsule is biodegradable.
What I am wondering: does encapsulating the ink lead to less probability of allergic reaction?[2]
Also, if you want a tattoo that's designed to fade over time, why not just get it airbrushed? I wouldn't want to go through the pain (well, not so bad) and the itching (terrible!) for something that won't last.[3]
If you were looking for chemistry tattoos, and ended up here, link pictures if you find any!
[1] Something I hadn't heard of before: removal by salt exfoliation. This just hurts me to think about. Ouuuch.
[2] It's possible to develop an allergy to your tattoo. This is one less-obvious reason people choose to have them removed.
[3] Of course, this is coming from someone who eschews semipermanent hair dye for the same reason.
7 comments:
I don't know if this really ties in, but I was going to get a tatoo of any natural products I completed in grad school. Imagine my dismay when I was handed methodology projects. *sighs*
Awwww. Methodology doesn't seem like it would lend itself to a design very easily.
Why not a metal catalyst? Grubbs' catalyst, or Wilkinson's catalyst, or the like? There are lots of options for methodology people!
When I meet the man with Grubbs I on his ass, I'm going to marry him. Oh yes.
Hmmmm. I can't decide whether "I saw THAT coming" or "You should SO get that done on your ass!" is more appropriate here...
Since I have 11 very real tattoos, I can safely say that temporary ink is dumb. Why use it?
See, that was my thought! I could understand using the permanent-but-removable ink since it looks like it's designed to be safer. It's a little freaky to notice unusual swelling around a tattoo all of a sudden.
I guess I didn't think of Grubbs' catalyst. It would totally be appropriate, too, since I worked with it a ton. Hmmm...now I've got something to ponder.
I did once get an ice cream cake for someone's birthday with myriaporone (4, I think) drawn on it in icing because she was almost done synthesizing it.
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