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Magnetic Fluids

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the flux-capacitor dept.

Polo writes: "Remember those magnetic sculpture things you can buy at the mall where these small metal pieces stay in one shape. Imagine doing that with Ferrofluids. This is just too cool. Dan is the nerd's nerd." Well, can't get any higher praise that that, I suppose. :) I have a couple of neodymium magnets and yes, they are much fun. Never played with magnetic fluid though.

4 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. SIGGRAPH by LS · · Score: 5, Informative


    Japanese artists Sachiko Kodama and Minako Takeno did an art piece displayed at SIGGRAPH using ferrofluids. Memepool had some links about this back in august.

    LS

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  2. Dialing "Guinness"... by cribcage · · Score: 5, Funny

    The "nerd's nerd" couldn't handle three measly hits? This has to be a "slashdotting" record. ;-)

    crib

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  3. Ferrofluid links by Black+Acid · · Score: 5, Informative
    Ferrofluids are indeed cool but DansData is not the only place which has information on them. They can be used to create nanostructures and defy gravity for environmental engineering. In case you're wondering what exactly ferrofluids are, here's a good excerpt from the previous link:
    Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of nanoscale magnetic particles in a carrier fluid; the particles form magnetic domains separated by coats of dispersant only a molecule thick. These magnetic fluids have been used in many ways--to form airtight seals around rapidly moving parts, to move drugs in the bloodstream and rocket propellants in spacecraft, even to cool and dampen powerful audio speakers. Now steerable ferrofluids may give rise to new tools for subsurface environmental engineering and laboratory safety.

    At Berkeley, they use magnetic fluids to control movement of underground fluids without any contact. Interesting stuff. For an introduction to ferrofluids, see University of Wisconsin's excellent article.

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  4. Where to score some black magnetic goo. by napa1m · · Score: 5, Informative

    A few friends and I bought a large bottle of the stuff, it's pretty neat to play with along with some magnets, but you need some SERIOUS power to get any real decent results, initially we were messing around with some discarded large speaker magnets and voice coils (fixed magnetic power). We went so far as to have ordered some higher power electromagnets and some extra hardware to control their strength. Unfortunately due to the recent events in our neighborhood (NYC) we haven't had a chance to experiment much more lately.

    Oh and its more like liquid than goo, so dont get your hopes of creating a giant black goo monster up too high.

    Anyway, if you want to pick some up for yourself try these places:

    Edmund Scientific
    (also has magnets, electromagnets)

    Teacher Source
    (this is where we got our large 1000ml bottle)

    and more listed at the official ferroftec web site:
    ferrofluidics

    -nA

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    ^nA! Creatures in my Head