How to make Magnetic Fluid

Enjoy!

In case anyone is curious, this works because of the iron oxide in the toner. I've been wanting to make some ferromagnetic fluid here at work for a while, but don't really have nanoparticles of iron to play with. I'll be doing this soon.

And a minor correction on the video, the fluid is not magnetic (in the normal sense) as he states. It polarizes in the presence of a magnetic field, but it doesn't retain any magnetic properties once the field is removed, which is called paramagnetism.

Relevant reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrofluid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramagnetism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferromagnetism
https://www.imagestar.com/msds/0281119001TRS.pdf (MSDS for MICR Toner, which lists Iron Oxide as an ingredient.)

Great point.
Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermomagnetic_convection

That's pretty fuckin cool.

Another good article on ferrofluid, from popsci.

http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/20...luids-work-you

Wow, holy shit. I just realized, it wouldn't be smart to jump in a pool full of ferrofluid after eating a bowl of nails. Thanks for enlightening me. :}