fun with ferrofluid – diy experiments _ myles power (powerm1985)
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Myles Power / February 21, 2012
Abstract
One of the most fun experiments that can be performed at home! Ferrofluid is a magnetic liquid that
takes the shape of the magnetic field applied to it and can be used to visualize magnetic fields. This
experimental explains how a ferrofluid can be made multiple ways by using simple household items.
Introduction to Ferrofluid
It is generally difficult to make a magnetic liquid because once you melt a magnetic material (for
example iron) it will no longer be magnetic. This is because the melting point for iron is 1000˚C, but its
Curie point (the temperature when magnetic materials lose their magnetism) is 800˚C. A ferrofluid,
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however, is liquid at room temperature and becomes strongly magnetized in the presence of a
magnetic field. They are made from ferromagnetic nanoparticles approximately 10 nm in diameter
suspended in a carrier fluid. The nanoparticles will remain suspended in a solution as long as they do not
aggregate. To prevent aggregation from occurring each nano particle is thoroughly coated with a
surfactant to inhibit clumping. There are many commercial applications for ferrofluid from liquid seals in
hard drives to contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. One of the more interesting
applications is in the use of ferrofluid based ink by the US government to print the one dollar bill. These
bills can be read by vending machines, capable of to recognize different magnetic patterns of different
denominations. This technology also helps to US government to identify counterfeit bills. To prove this
at home (if you live in the US) hold a neodymium magnet to a one dollar bill and you will see it would be
attracted to the magnet. Ferrofluid can be bought relatively cheaply online. It can also be made simply
from home in two ways.
Homemade Ferrofluid from Laser Jet Toner
One of the quickest and easiest ways to make a ferrofluid is to made a 1:1 mixture of laser jet
toner (or magnetic ink developer) land vegetable oil.
Homemade Ferrofluid from Compact Cassettes
The magnetic tape contained in the compact cassette is made of a thin magnetizable coating on a long,
narrow strip of plastic. The magnetizable tape coating is made from ferric oxide (Fe2O3).It is this ferric
oxide that needs to be isolated and mixed with vegetable oil to make the ferrofluid.
Materials and equipment
Compact Cassettes
Acetone
Two Large bowls
Neodymium magnets
Balloon
Scissors
Vegetable oil
Experimental Procedure
Break the cassettes and remove the
magnetic tape and unravel.
Place the unraveled tape in to one of the large bowls and submerge with acetone. Leave for a
hour allowing time for the acetone to dissolve the tapes coating.
Decant the acetone solution into the second bowl.
Push the neodymium magnets into a balloon and swirl through the acetone solution. The ferric
oxide will be attracted to the magnet and form a brown sludge on the outside of the balloon.
Collect the brown sludge by removing the magnet from the balloon. This can be achieved by
cutting the top of the balloon off and inverting. This method will also prevent any get the sludge
on the magnet.
Add a small amount of vegetable oil (You will need to experiment to get the correct
concentration)
Fun with Ferrofluid – DIY Experiments | Myles Power (powerm1985) http://mylespower.co.uk/2012/02/21/fun-with-ferrofluid/
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There is a third option but it requires using less available ferrous chloride, ammonium hydroxide and
citric acid. Ferrofluids are well known for forming regular patterns of peaks and valleys (spikes) when a
strong vertical magnetic field is applied. The spikes are formed along magnetic field lines when the
magnetic surface force exceeds the stabilizing effect of the fluid weight and surface tension.
Ferrofluids have an exceptionally high magnetic susceptibility and large spikes will form using a small
neodymium magnet.
Neodymium is a rare-earth element and was first discovered in 1885 by Austrian chemist Carl Auer von
Welsbach. Neodymium magnets are made from an alloy of iron, boron and neodymium (Nd2Fe14B)
and are the most powerful permanent magnets known to man capable of lifting a thousand times their
own weight. Neodymium magnets appear in products such as microphones, loudspeakers, bass guitar
pick-ups and headphones.
Materials and equipment
Ferrofluid
Petri dish
Neodymium magnets
Pipette
Nitrile gloves
Magnetic objects (screws, bolts, etc)
Glass
Experimental Procedure
Be sure to wear nitrile gloves before starting this experiment as ferrofluid will dye your hands.
Connect the neodymium magnets to your magnetic objects but keep them separated by placing
a Petri dish between them. Next place them on the glass.
Using a pipette, pipette out a small amount of ferrofluid on the magnetic object.
To reuse the ferrofluid simply remove the neodymium magnets and collect using the pipette.
Video
Fun with Ferrofluid – DIY Experiments | Myles Power (powerm1985) http://mylespower.co.uk/2012/02/21/fun-with-ferrofluid/
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Pictures
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References
Rosensweig, R. E. Scientific American 1982, 247(4), 136-45.1.
Berger, P.; Adelman, N. B.; Beckman, K. J.; Campbell, D. J.; Ellis, A. B.; Lisensky, G. C. J. of Chemical
Education 1999, 76, 943-8.
2.
Full list of DIY experiments
February 21, 2012 in DIY Experiments. Tags: ferrofluid, homemade ferrofluid, neodymium, spikes
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13 thoughts on “Fun with Ferrofluid – DIY Experiments”
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Fun with Ferrofluid – DIY Experiments | Myles Power (powerm1985) http://mylespower.co.uk/2012/02/21/fun-with-ferrofluid/
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dubwiser May 13, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Hey, my friend and I have had a couple of tries at this now and haven’t managed to
collect more than the tiniest amount. The first time we used a VHS cassette, the
second an audio cassette.I managed to get acetone from a hair and beauty place but
we hardly got anything from either tape Laser toner’s expensive too. Have you got
any other tips?
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