Even inside the wondrous world of magnets, ferrofluid is especially magical the first time you see it in action. Though it’s a liquid, it behaves like a goopy solid when manipulated by a magnet. Instead of flowing freely, ferrofluid will contour in the shape of the magnetic field acting upon it, letting you manipulate it at will before returning to its original spot within the magnetic field.  With it’s remarkable qualities also comes an interesting history, an important present, and a promising future.

History and Characteristics

Ferrofluid was developed by NASA in 1963 as a liquid rocket fuel that would work in zero gravity. It was designed to be pulled into a pump inlet by nothing more than a magnetic field. The reason it works: Ferrofluid is a stable colloidal suspension of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. In simple terms, it’s a liquid containing tiny magnetic particles. It’s often dark and oily, and only about 5% of it is magnetic substances.

Today’s Uses

Because of its versatility, ferrofluid is used in a range of applications. Here are  a few spots you’ll find it in today’s products and industries: 1. Electronics. Many hard drives contain a hard disc that uses a spinning drive shaft. Ferrofluid is often used as a liquid seal to prevent debris from entering the hard drive. 2. Mechanical engineering. Thanks to its chemical composition, ferrofluid works as a sort of lubricant for magnets. When applied to the surface of a neodymium magnet, for example, the magnet can slide along a surface without too much resistance. Ferrofluids are also used in dampers for mechanical and aerospace applications. They’re especially popular in helicopters, which deal with many different vibrations. 3. Loudspeakers. Inside speakers, ferrofluid magnets are used to remove heat from voice coils. This works because ferrofluid is paramagnetic, meaning it becomes less magnetic at higher temperatures. As a result, when ferrofluid particles heat up, they head towards a heat sink. Meanwhile, cooler ferrofluid moves closer to the voice coil.

Future Applications

There have been many proposed uses for ferrofluids, and it’s hard to tell which will stick. Here are a few possibilities for it in the future: 1. Medical Applications. One team of researchers has already developed an artificial heart that relies on ferrofluids and electromagnets instead of motors or mechanical parts. In addition, ferrofluid could be useful in directing drugs to certain parts of the body, which would be especially useful in directly treating cancerous cells and tumors with chemotherapy—without wrecking the rest of the body. Ferrofluid could even be used to cure retinal detachment, the leading cause of blindness, by sealing tiny retinal holes. 2. Optics. By suspending ferrofluid in ethylene glycol, researchers are confident they’ll be able to create high-quality reflective surfaces inside telescopes to better observe astronomical bodies. The result: Telescopes on earth that could compare to the Hubble Telescope. 3. Energy. It might sound like science fiction, but some believe ferrofluids can be used to generate electricity by harvesting low frequency vibrations. 4. Smart body armor. By spinning fabrics out of ferrofluid-based fibers, soldiers and law enforcement officers could receive articles of clothing that can stiffen when exposed to a magnetic field. This would make the material invaluable during combat when a soldier’s under attack, or out in the field when someone suffers an injury. The material can also stiffen to create a brace that will protect broken limbs. Ferrofluid also has the ability to transform your business or classroom. Contact Apex Magnets for all of your ferrofluid and ferrofluid accessory needs. You can acquire ferrofluid in a number of quantities. Need regular, solid magnets? Apex Magnets has those as well.