Ferro fluid is created when magnetic materials are suspended in a solvent, such as oil or water. When this happens, the solvent transforms into a magnetic gel. This unusual chemistry makes the fluid useful in a variety of applications. Whether you are a manufacturer of goods or a person with a flair for creating unusual art, ferro fluids are a material you must have in your collection.
In terms of industrial application, there are many ways one can use ferro fluid. Since it has the ability to take the form of both a liquid and a solid, the fluid can be used in situations where there is a need for a magnetic lubricant. This is particularly the case when one is creating loudspeakers, hard drives or CD/DVD laser heads. For manufacturers of medical equipment, ferro fluids are an essential addition in resonance imaging equipment. The same is also true for manufacturers of military or scientific equipment. In fact, NASA has an ongoing need for this type of fluid. With it, they can help control the rotation of their spacecraft.
For the artist, ferro fluids have a different application. Their color and chemical composition allow sculptors to create very striking art. Consider Sachiko Kodama, an artist who specializes in these types of creations. Many of them place emphasis on the ?spikes? that form when the fluid is created. Others demonstrate the unusual nature of the substance. In either case, an aspiring artist can receive great inspiration by studying her work. The situation is even better if they can replicate such talent in their own designs. Since this genre of art is relatively new, they will find themselves in high demand among museums and art collectors. In addition, art derived from ferro fluids has educational value. They use beauty and ingenuity to teach people about the powers of magnetism and colloidal suspensions, (or materials that possess two different states of matter).
In conclusion, ferro fluid is an extremely versatile substance. While the material is not as magnetic at higher temperatures, for applications involving a low Curie temperature, it is a godsend. Its liquid-solid properties help lubricate components, while its magnetism helps bind them together. Other magnets with similar strength can only bind. In addition, they are not suitable for artistic applications. Ferro fluids can make a different claim thanks to their chemistry. Sachiko Kodama has realized this, which is why she is gaining phenomenal success as a contemporary artist. Others can do the same, once they realize that ferro fluids do not have to limit themselves to a lab or a manufacturing plant. True, they are quite useful in these places, but they offer equal amounts of power to the artistic genius. Indeed, everyone wins with ferro fluids, the ultimate miracle of chemistry!
