Ferrofluid Neodymium Rare Earth Magnetic Liquid - 1 ounce

You are buying one **1** Fluid Ounce bottle of Ferrofluid.

What is Ferrofluid? In short, it is a liquid that responds to magnets and magnetic fields. The longer answer is ferrofluid is an extremely fine powder, coated with a soap-like material called a surfactant, suspended in a mineral oil liquid base. The resulting magnetic suspension is called a ferrofluid.

When no magnetic field is present, ferrofluid behaves and flows like a normal liquid. However, when a magnet or magnetic field is introduced, the ferrofluid is attracted to the field. Spikes then form along the magnetic field lines when the magnetic surface force exceeds the stabilizing effects of fluid weight and surface tension.

The results are spectacular and sometimes other-worldly. The photos below show a 7/16" diameter x 1.5" neodymium cylinder magnet with ferrofluid on the north pole. The first picture shows the early formation of magnetic spikes.

7/16" diameter x 1.5" neodymium cylinder magnet

As more fluid is carefully added, the spikes become more pronounced, forming a ferrofluid "tree" as seen below.

This photo shows a ferrofluid "acorn". The fluid is attracted to a 1/2" neodymium cylinder magnet in the center. The cylinder is attached to small cube magnets and attached to a metal bar for display. (bar not pictured)

Ferrofluid, while lots of fun just to play with, has many practical applications as well. Since ferrofluid has low resistance to flow, it can function as a liquid O-ring seal, kept in place with permanent magnets. Ferrofluid seals prevent dust particles from working into disk drive mechanisms and crashing the drive head into the disk.