FerrofluidsFerrofluids

Charles Wolfe, Newell Jensen, Jonathan Hogander and Seth

McDonough

Charles Wolfe, Newell Jensen, Jonathan Hogander and Seth

McDonough

What Is Ferrofluid?What Is Ferrofluid?

• It’s a liquid magnet.• A fluid in which fine

particles of iron, magnetite or cobalt are suspended in an oil surfactant.

• It’s a liquid magnet.• A fluid in which fine

particles of iron, magnetite or cobalt are suspended in an oil surfactant.

History of FerrofliudsHistory of Ferrofliuds

• In the 1960’s Stephen Pappell at NASA first developed ferrofluids as a method for controlling fluids in space.

• Magnets and/or magnetic fields were used to control this magnetic fluid.

• Currently applications of Ferrofluids in space have been replaced by more economical fluids.

• In the 1960’s Stephen Pappell at NASA first developed ferrofluids as a method for controlling fluids in space.

• Magnets and/or magnetic fields were used to control this magnetic fluid.

• Currently applications of Ferrofluids in space have been replaced by more economical fluids.

Mechanics of Ferrofluids

Mechanics of Ferrofluids

• Small magnetite particles are held in colloidal suspension due to interparticle electrostatic repulsion. This is brought about by the attraction of the hydroxide anion to the magnetite particles which in turn attract the positive tetrmethyl-ammonium cations.

• Small magnetite particles are held in colloidal suspension due to interparticle electrostatic repulsion. This is brought about by the attraction of the hydroxide anion to the magnetite particles which in turn attract the positive tetrmethyl-ammonium cations.

Unique Properties of Ferrofluids

Unique Properties of Ferrofluids

• Can stick to a magnet.• Will take on the 3-

dimensional shape of the magnetic field that passes through it.

• Changes its density in proportion to the strength of the magnetic field that’s applied to it.

• Can stick to a magnet.• Will take on the 3-

dimensional shape of the magnetic field that passes through it.

• Changes its density in proportion to the strength of the magnetic field that’s applied to it.

ApplicationsApplications

• Lithographic (currency)• Sealing Technology• Bio-Medical• Loud speakers

• Lithographic (currency)• Sealing Technology• Bio-Medical• Loud speakers

Lithographic (currency)

Lithographic (currency)

• Magnetic inks are printed onto paper money and used for bar codes for identification purposes.

• Makes counterfeiting more difficult.

• Magnetic inks are printed onto paper money and used for bar codes for identification purposes.

• Makes counterfeiting more difficult.

Sealing TechnologySealing Technology

• Used for bearing seals in hard drives. The fluid is held in place by magnets creating a magnetic seal (o-ring) for high speed rotation.

• Used for bearing seals in hard drives. The fluid is held in place by magnets creating a magnetic seal (o-ring) for high speed rotation.

Bio-MedicalBio-Medical

• Have been used in medicine since the 1960’s.

• Magnetically position organs during abdominal or brain surgery.

• Attaching drugs to the surface of magnetic particles and use magnetic fields to hold the drug at the site where it is needed.

• Have been used in medicine since the 1960’s.

• Magnetically position organs during abdominal or brain surgery.

• Attaching drugs to the surface of magnetic particles and use magnetic fields to hold the drug at the site where it is needed.

Loud SpeakersLoud Speakers

• Most common application. Helps to cool loud speakers by filling in the gap of the permanent magnet in speakers.

• Cooling occurs due to convection like affect of the fluctuating magnetic field in the speaker.

• Most common application. Helps to cool loud speakers by filling in the gap of the permanent magnet in speakers.

• Cooling occurs due to convection like affect of the fluctuating magnetic field in the speaker.

Our Ferrofluid Pictures

Our Ferrofluid Pictures

Cool Ferrofluid Pictures

Cool Ferrofluid Pictures

ReferencesReferences

• http://www.carolina.com/physics/aboutferro.asp

• http://www.ferrotec.com/usa/ferrofluid_technology_overview.htm

• http://www.zarm.uni-bremen.de/2forschung/ferro/basic_info/applic/applic.htm

• Journal of Chemical Education, Volume 76, No. 7, July 1999. http://JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu

• http://www.carolina.com/physics/aboutferro.asp

• http://www.ferrotec.com/usa/ferrofluid_technology_overview.htm

• http://www.zarm.uni-bremen.de/2forschung/ferro/basic_info/applic/applic.htm

• Journal of Chemical Education, Volume 76, No. 7, July 1999. http://JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu