Some sponges are made for different reasons, but all serve the same basic purpose. They are made to absorb liquids. It doesn’t matter if the sponge is from the sea, or from a factory, they both use wicking and surface tension in order to absorb sponges. This use is what allowed the sponge to soak its way into history. Sponge absorption is the key power that utilizes wicking and surface tension to soak up liquids. Wicking, or capillary action, allows water to be stored in sponges when they soak up liquids.
According to World Book Student, capillary action is the movement of liquid in tiny holes, called capillaries (Thompson, 2015). This is also called wicking. Capillary action is found within all sponges, when they absorb a liquid. Without capillary action, a sponge wouldn’t be able to absorb liquids, because the water would have no way of settling. Surface tension is what gives the sponge the power to suck liquids in. Surface tension happens because a liquid’s boundary, or edge, has different effects then the liquid in the center.
The effects differ depending on the liquid and the solid it’s up against, or any other forces, such as gravity and capillary action. A sponge utilizes this because the liquid it absorbs is almost always touching the sponge, causing is to soak it up. Capillary action and surface tension are both forces that depend on each other to allow a sponge to absorb liquids. When selecting the most efficient sponge, it is important to know the origin of natural sponges, and their life in the ocean.
Most sponges that are harvested from the ocean are separated into three groups. They are Calcispongiae, Hyalospongiae, and Demospongiae. These are different because of their skeletal systems. (Kats, & Sara, 2012) Sponges were once thought to be plants due to their simplicity, but are in fact animals with no internal organs, or blood. They survive by filtering the small bits of food out from water that constantly passes through the pores on their body. Water can pass through their bodies because they are made of a mesh like substance called spongin.
Sea sponges are extremely primitive creatures, and because of that, they can be reaped from the oceans, and given many uses. Over time, to shift into a new industrial revolution, factories started producing artificial sponges for a more affordable price than sea sponges, and gave them custom traits for specific uses. Artificial sponges are made in different shapes and in different materials to better fit specific uses of the user. Cellulose sponges are seen a lot in kitchens, and can be used in multiple ways. This is the generic sponge that is easy and cheap to make.
A newer form of the sponge is the Melamine sponge. This sponge is specialized with a cleaning foam that can absorb water while being almost as hard as glass. The tile/grout sponge is a large, foamy and soft sponge that is usually used in heavy duty work, like cleaning floors and cars. One of the reasons why artificial sponges overshadowed the sea sponge at the start of the 20th century, and the 21st century, was because they’re easier to make. Most sponges are made mostly of cellulose, which is known for being the most common organic compound on earth.
The process starts when cellulose fibers, sodium sulphate crystals, hemp fibers, and dye are mixed in a tumble drum. Then, they are cut into rectangular shapes and are cooked. What this does, is melt the sodium sulphate crystals, and leaves little holes in the cellulose. After that, the sponge goes through a cleaning process to make it suitable for the market. Lastly, the sponges are cut into even smaller pieces, packaged, and shipped out. ( Marie ) In the end, the variety and the affordable price make the artificial sponge a household essential.
Although history lacked the artificial sponge until the 20th century, sea sponges played a very important role throughout history, and still do today. In ancient civilizations, people harvested and used sponges differently than today. They were held at great value in places like Greece, Rome, and Egypt, because of how difficult it was to harvest them. To do this, men would dive naked into the water with a stone, so they could sink quicker. The diver would then cut the sponges off the sea floor, and bring them up to the surface.
Much like today, they were used for bathing, and cleaning. They were also used to line the insides of warrior’s helmets. Today, humans have developed more efficient ways of harvesting sponges. Divers with oxygen tanks dive down and cut sponges from the sea floor with specialized knives or hooks. They are used for bathing and cleaning, but today, are rarely used for aligning the insides of battle helmets. (The Sea Sponge Company, 2012). After the invention of the artificial sponge in the 1940s, natural sponges ave been declining in sales, but are still sold.
The whole view on sponges have evolved over the course of centuries, from treasured and scarce, to essential and abundant. All in all, whether the sponge comes from the sea, or a factory, it constantly demonstrates its ability to efficiently absorb liquids, using wicking and surface tension. This is why its spot in commercial use, as well as use in the past, will remain solid for the foreseeable future. Thus making the sponge a household essential for everyone.
