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Magnetic Fluid Art

Posted by timothy on from the mindcandy dept.

Big Dave Diode writes: "Fero magnetic powder dissolved in a solvent and manipulated by electromagnets makes for some keen 3D shapes. Boy, physics is fun." These are really very pretty shapes; I wonder what other uses there are for magnetic micropowder dissolved in solvent.

8 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Educational use by Yazeran · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Apart from the pretty pictures and funny shapes, fluid like this can be used in education. Children can play with the shapes and at the same time learn something about magnetism (and not only electromagnets will create these shapes), ordinary permanent magnets works just as good. In some instances better, as you cna make multipolar permanent magnets, which makes for some pretty interesting shapes in such fluid.


    Yours Yazeran


    Plan: to go to mars one day with a hammer.

  2. Other uses... by Muad'Dave · · Score: 2, Interesting


    ...include electrically-actuated clutches in cars. Traditionally, magnetic clutches consisted of steel disks brought together (rather abruptly) by an electromagnet. To provide a smooth, wear-free power transfer, electro-rheological materials (that change viscosity with an applied electric field) where used, but had issues of their own. These magnetic particles could provide a viable answer.

    --
    Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
    1. Re:Other uses... by Gordonjcp · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, ferro-magnetic fluid clutches were used in cars in the 1950's by (iirc) Austin. The biggie was that the electromagnets used a horrendous amount of power, and very quickly killed the relatively weak dynamo-powered electrical systems.

      Probably, an alternator-powered system would work a bit better.

  3. Science Museum, London by fingal · · Score: 2

    IIRC, there is a demo of this fluid in the materials section of the Science Museum in London with a tray of the fluid and a variety of different shaped magnets (horseshoe, toroidal, bar etc) that you can press up against the bottom of the tray and make your own shapes like this. Very pleasant way to spend an afternoon...

    --

    The only Good System is a Sound System

  4. SIGGRAPH by The+Iconoclast · · Score: 2

    I saw this art piece at the ACM SIGGRAPH conference this year in the art gallery. It was amazing. One of the most popular exhibits at the conference. Phisics + Art = Beautiful fun!!!

    --
    Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
  5. Dissolved in a solvent? by Vuarnet · · Score: 3, Funny

    (*Slaps own forehead*) No wonder every time I tried dissolving stuff in non-solvents it never worked out...

    --
    Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I
    Learning to fly, Pink Floyd.
  6. Virtual Sensation suit by coldfire · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You could build an interesting virtual reality immersion suit with this. A double layer suit with this between the layers and an array of electromagnets on the outside of it could give and interesting mix of tactile sensations. Or a really good back massage.

  7. Re:another use by |deity| · · Score: 2

    If one could find a way to solidify these shapes after they have been created, maybe by using a melted solid to hold the particles in suspension, then allowing the material to cool to the point of solidification. One could create many solids of different shapes, with no machining using a computer to controll magnet placement.

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    Environmentalists are their own worst enemy. ~tricklenews.com