"Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science." These words from Ralph Waldo Emerson aptly express the motivation and drive behind advancing science and technology. Scientific minds provide the playground where curiosity and exploration lead to innovations in technology. A great example of this principle can be seen in the science of magnetics. The disciplines of science, medicine, industry, and transportation have all benefited from the developing field of magnetics. One of the recent studies has produced a liquid magnet known as ferro fluid. This black, oil-like substance maintains magnetic properties, but its unique fluidity and reactions in magnetic fields have provided new seeds of innovation causing many inventors to go on a ferrofluid buy.
Ferrofluid consists of nano-sized magnetic particles that are suspended in an oily carrier fluid. A surfactant is added to this fluid that causes the magnet particles to attach to the oil base and remain suspended evenly within the fluid. This magnetic fluid is already being used for products and services in a variety of different areas. Research and development departments are already experimenting on its use in future technology.
This smart fluid has many current uses in electronics, medicine, and industry. Its magnetic property can permits metal parts and components to effortlessly interact with one another without normal friction, which hinders and causes wear and tear on machinery. It is also used by NASA in space technology for multiple guidance system functions and it is a vital part of the directional measurements and calculations needed in space. The advancements in medical diagnosis have resulted from this magnetic liquid. It is the integral component in MRI machines. In electronics, the ferrofluid buy creates liquid sealing gaskets for spinning shafts and it aids in eliminating heat and vibration in sound speakers, which improves sound quality and performance in high-end speaker design.
The uses for ferrofluid in future technology and invention are currently underway. A special bullet proof vest using magnetic will soon offer greater and more complete protection for the wearer. The medical field is developing improved instruments for diagnosis and there is currently a cancer treatment that uses the technology of liquid magnets. It is reasonable to assume hundreds of products that already exist will be upgraded and updated through magnetics. Research and development teams are also looking to create advanced transportation systems with ferro fluid. Research is being done to produce a transport system that would use magnetic properties to propel a magnetically charged transport along the rails at speeds reaching in excess of 300 miles per hour.
There does not seem to be an end to the possibilities that exist for this fluid. There is also unexplored potential for this magnetic material in the fields of art and design. The technology and resource needed to produce this magnet-in-motion is complex and costly, which makes ferrofluid buy quite expensive. The potential it holds, however, is causing wonder in young and old minds alike, which is providing the seed for its future application.
Ferro fluid is a liquid material that when placed within the limits of a magnetic field will itself become magnetized. In its non magnetic state the fluid is black and appears to be oily in nature but when placed in the magnetic field it is formed into spikes that are small and black. There are applications of the fluid in both science in industrial and commercial applications as well as artistically due to the visually shocking nature of its behavior and the shock value. Many of the stunning pieces by Sachiko Kodama, a Japanese artist, apply ferro fluid in her artwork. Although origionally focusing on holographic art, because of its fluid nature her interests have turned toward ferro fluids. Another application of ferro fluids are in museums of science, fountains containing the material are used to teach the principles of magnetism.
As well as its various aesthetic applications, there are a number of industrial purposes for ferro fluid. One application is to fill the spaces between the spinning disks inside of computer drives. Because of its ability to significantly reduce friction between objects it has been given many mechanical applications which require the motion of magnets over surfaces with little to no resistance. Research is currently being done in space travel applications including experiments in using ferro fluid to control altitude. The fluid has been applied in medicine in conjunction with magnetic imaging to detect certain types of cancer. Because of the heat generating properties of the fluid it is also being experimented with in medical procedures known as magnetic hyperthermia. Its properties in heat transference has also made ferro fluid an excellent tool in advanced loudspeaker technology. As speaker coils begin to heat up, they can attract the ferro fluid which then cools the coil back down to a safe operating temperature. This system allows the speaker's components to cool down with no outside source of energy such as hydraulic cooling being necessary.
There a number of techniques for the formation of ferro fluid. It should be done with caution, however, as the formula can create toxic fumes as well as generate a significan amount of heat. These thing in mind, most people tend to turn to professional manufacturers for their ferro fluid needs. It is possible, also, to extract these fluids from broken CD and DVD players and computer hard disks. The black oily nature of the material also makes it advisable to wear gloves when handling the substance, as it can stain clothing and skin. The fluid must never be ingested as it can be the cause of iron poisoning. As one of the main ingredients of ferro fluid is kerosene, to avoid fires it must be carefully stored away from sources of heat. Simply put, ferro fluid is a highly useful liquid magnet with numerous practical applications as well as entertainment value.
