There are many commercial applications for ferrofluids--speakers and hard drives being the most common. The oily fluid prevents debris from entering hard drives when a small amount is placed between the magnets and shaft. In the case of speakers ferrofluids remove heat from the voice coils and help dampen the cone movement. My own interest in the black ooze is a desire to create custom cases for electronics. And even more fun can be had making dynamic molds by pouring a hardening agent over the fluids.
If you are still wondering what ferrofluids are take a look at this video:
DIY Option 1: Magnetic Ink Developer
DIY Option 2: Ferric Chloride
The ferric chloride conversion is clever. Electronics enthusiasts often keep ferric chloride at home to eat away copper which makes a reasonable DIY circuit board. The chemistry involved seems easy enough.
- mix ferric chloride with water
- add steel wool - stir until bright green
- use a coffee filter as a strainer
- add more ferric chloride
- add ammonia
- heat for a hour at boiling (in a well ventilated space)
- let solution cool
- add kerosene
- pour off kerosene discard water
DIY Option 3: Recycling Audio Cassettes
Finally, we have what looks like the most DIY approach--acetone to extract the iron particles from old casette tapes. Obtaining tapes and using acetone is labor intensive, but commendable.
Controlling the shape of ferrofluids and then "freezing" them in place could be another tool for inexpensive desktop fabrication. Combining two unusual uses of magnetic fluids invites further empowerment for the maker. This French nail polish has magnetic particles that can be triggered into elegant patterns after being applied and before setting up. And Martin Frey has a dynamically controlled ferrofluid art piece titled SnOil that offers 144 pixels that is a low-res display.
I plan to try the chemical ferric chloride approach used in DIY option 2 substituting the kerosene for biodiesel and the oleic acid for citric acid. In order to get a freeze effect I will begin with pouring epoxy resin over the ferrofluid. Then observe the fluid's behavior. Can it hold a shape long enough for the resin to setup? That, we shall see.