Making ferrofluid from scratch
TLDRIn this fascinating video, the creator shares their journey of making ferrofluid from scratch, a magnetic liquid that forms striking spikes in the presence of a magnet. Initially, their attempts resulted in semi-solid spikes, but after extensive research and experimentation, they successfully created high-quality ferrofluid with sharper and larger spikes than commercial products. The process involved preparing magnetite nanoparticles, stabilizing them with oleic acid, and suspending them in kerosene. The video also explores the fluid's properties, such as its lack of increased viscosity in a magnetic field, distinguishing it from magnetorheological fluids. The creator demonstrates the fluid's unique behavior in various setups, including a vial and an artistic application, and concludes with a giveaway of five ferrofluid vials to viewers.
Takeaways
- 🧲 The speaker became obsessed with making ferrofluid and, after many failed attempts, eventually succeeded in creating a high-quality ferrofluid with better performance than commercial products.
- 🔍 Ferrofluid is a stable suspension of magnetic nanoparticles in a liquid, typically made with magnetite nanoparticles that are chemically coated for stability.
- 🛠️ The process of making ferrofluid involves preparing a source of iron (III) and iron (II) ions, which the speaker sourced from circuit board etchant and steel wool.
- ⚙️ The creation of magnetite is a delicate process that requires careful control of the iron (II) to iron (III) ratio, stirring speed, and the addition of ammonia to form nanoparticles.
- 🧪 The use of an overhead mixer and a Teflon-covered stir rod were essential for effective stirring and nanoparticle formation.
- 📉 The pH of the solution plays a crucial role in the reaction, with the addition of ammonia and later acid to control the reaction and the formation of magnetite.
- 🧼 The magnetite nanoparticles are stabilized using oleic acid, which prevents them from aggregating and maintains the stability of the ferrofluid.
- 🧴 The final ferrofluid product is oil-based due to the oleic acid coating on the magnetite particles, with kerosene used as the solvent.
- 🎨 Ferrofluid can be used in various applications, including as a lubricant and for creating art, with the speaker demonstrating its use in drawing precise lines on paper.
- 🧴 The speaker experienced difficulties with consistency, with some batches producing better results than others, indicating the need for further refinement of the process.
- 💧 The drying process of the magnetite is critical and is achieved using a vacuum chamber with calcium chloride to remove any remaining alcohol or water.
Q & A
What is ferrofluid and why did the creator become obsessed with it?
-Ferrofluid is a colloidal liquid with nanoscale ferromagnetic particles suspended in a carrier fluid. The creator became obsessed with it because of its unique properties, particularly its ability to form spikes in the presence of a magnetic field, which they found fascinating and wanted to create themselves.
Why did the initial attempts to create ferrofluid fail?
-The initial attempts failed because the procedures found online did not yield the expected results. The creator's ferrofluid either didn't react much or partially solidified, forming semi-solid spikes instead of the desired fluid-like spikes.
What is the basic concept behind making ferrofluid?
-The basic concept behind making ferrofluid is to create a stable suspension of a magnetic iron compound, usually magnetite, in a solvent. This involves preparing the iron compound as nanoparticles and then chemically coating them to ensure stability.
What was the source of iron used in the successful creation of ferrofluid?
-The creator used circuit board etchant as the source of iron, which is about 40% ferric chloride, for the iron (III)+ ions. For the iron (II)+ ions, they reduced the ferric chloride using steel wool.
Why is the ratio between iron (II) and iron (III) important in the creation of magnetite?
-The ratio between iron (II) and iron (III) is crucial because it affects the quality of the magnetite produced. An incorrect ratio can lead to poor-quality magnetite, which would ruin the entire preparation of the ferrofluid.
How did the creator ensure the magnetite formed as nanoparticles?
-The creator ensured the magnetite formed as nanoparticles by carefully controlling the stirring speed, the rate at which the base was added, and the pH levels during the reaction. They used an overhead mixer and an addition funnel to manage these variables.
What role does oleic acid play in the creation of ferrofluid?
-Oleic acid plays a crucial role in the creation of ferrofluid by providing a nonpolar coating for the magnetite nanoparticles. This coating helps stabilize the nanoparticles and allows them to interact with the nonpolar solvent, such as kerosene, to form a stable suspension.
What is the difference between a ferrofluid and a magnetorheological (MR) fluid?
-A ferrofluid is a stable colloidal suspension of nanoscale ferromagnetic particles in a carrier fluid, which remains liquid and does not significantly increase in viscosity in the presence of a magnetic field. An MR fluid, on the other hand, contains larger particles that can separate from the solvent and increase the viscosity when exposed to a magnetic field.
Why did the creator choose kerosene as the carrier fluid for the ferrofluid?
-The creator chose kerosene as the carrier fluid for the ferrofluid because it is cheap, readily available, and does not evaporate as quickly as other solvents. Additionally, kerosene is a good match for oil-based ferrofluids, which are coated with oleic acid.
How did the creator test the quality of the homemade ferrofluid?
-The creator tested the quality of the homemade ferrofluid by observing its behavior under a magnetic field, ensuring it formed sharp spikes and did not increase in viscosity. They also compared it to commercial ferrofluids and tested its ability to create smooth, precise lines on paper for art.
What are some challenges the creator faced and aims to overcome in future attempts to make ferrofluid?
-The creator faced challenges such as inconsistency in the quality of the ferrofluid, difficulty in scaling up the process, and the messiness of working with ferrofluids. They aim to make the process more reproducible and scalable in future attempts.
How can viewers participate in the giveaway for a chance to win one of the creator's homemade ferrofluid vials?
-Viewers can participate in the giveaway by using the link provided in the video description to get an entry. They can increase their chances by visiting the creator's YouTube page, checking out their Instagram, or following/subscribing to their social media, although these actions are not mandatory for the giveaway.
Outlines
🔍 The Quest for DIY Ferrofluid
The speaker recounts their initial fascination with ferrofluid, a liquid that reacts to magnets by forming spikes. Despite finding various online recipes, their attempts to create it were unsuccessful, leading to frustration and a deep dive into research. After a month of experimentation, they successfully made high-quality ferrofluid with sharper spikes than commercial products. The process involves creating a stable suspension of magnetite nanoparticles in a solvent, which proved more complex than expected.
🧪 Preparing the Iron Compounds for Magnetite
The video details the process of making magnetite, starting with obtaining iron (III) and iron (II) ions. The speaker found it more practical to use circuit board etchant for iron (III) ions and reduced it to iron (II) ions using steel wool. The conversion process was exothermic and resulted in an increased concentration of iron (II) ions, which was crucial for the subsequent reaction to form magnetite. The speaker emphasizes the importance of this ratio for the quality of the final product.
🌟 Creating Nanoparticles of Magnetite
The speaker describes the meticulous process of creating magnetite nanoparticles. They mixed iron (II) and iron (III) solutions with concentrated ammonia under specific stirring conditions to control particle size and prevent oxidation. The goal was to achieve a fine balance between stir speed, base addition rate, and other variables to ensure the formation of small, uniform nanoparticles of magnetite.
🧴 Stabilizing and Coating the Nanoparticles
After successfully creating magnetite, the speaker discusses the stabilization process using oleic acid and ammonia to prevent particle aggregation. The oleic acid coats the nanoparticles, providing stability and allowing the magnetite to be suspended in a carrier fluid. The speaker also experimented with acid addition to control the pH and facilitate the separation of magnetite from the reaction mixture.
🍶 Mixing the Ferrofluid and Testing Its Properties
The speaker then moves on to mixing the oleic acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles with kerosene to create the ferrofluid. They detail the process of ensuring the magnetite is fully suspended in the fluid, highlighting the importance of the fluid's viscosity as an indicator of quality. The speaker also demonstrates the fluid's behavior in a magnetic field, noting the formation of spikes and the fluid's resistance to becoming more viscous.
🎁 Giving Away Ferrofluid and Exploring Its Uses
The video concludes with the speaker announcing a giveaway of vials filled with the ferrofluid they made. They also share their experiences with different applications of ferrofluid, such as its use in art and as a lubricant, and discuss the challenges and future goals in refining the ferrofluid production process. The speaker expresses satisfaction with their homemade ferrofluid, which in some instances outperformed commercial products.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ferrofluid
💡Magnetite
💡Nanoparticles
💡Oleic Acid
💡Kerosene
💡Magnetic Field
💡Colloid
💡Magnetorheological Fluid (MR Fluid)
💡Surfactant
💡Vacuum Chamber
💡Giveaway
Highlights
The speaker became obsessed with ferrofluid and attempted to make it, initially facing failure with standard online recipes.
Ferrofluid, when near a magnet, should form distinctive spikes while remaining fluid-like; the initial attempts resulted in partial solidification.
Extensive research and experimentation led to the successful creation of ferrofluid with improved spiking compared to commercial products.
The process involved making magnetite nanoparticles and stabilizing them, which proved to be more complex than initially anticipated.
Circuit board etchant was used as an iron source, offering a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to preparing iron solutions from scratch.
The conversion of iron (III) to iron (II) using steel wool was a crucial step, with the concentration of iron (II) increasing as a result.
The ratio of iron (II) to iron (III) is pivotal in the formation of magnetite, with a significant impact on the quality of the final product.
The use of an overhead mixer and specific stirring speeds were essential for controlling particle size and preventing oxidation during magnetite formation.
Ammonium oleate was used to stabilize the nanoparticles, preventing them from aggregating and maintaining their suspension in the fluid.
The addition of dilute muriatic acid helped separate the magnetite from the reaction mixture by converting excess ammonia and soap back to oleic acid.
The magnetite nanoparticles were washed with water and isopropanol to remove side products and were then dried using a vacuum chamber.
The resulting ferrofluid was a stable colloid of magnetite nanoparticles in kerosene, exhibiting a unique response to magnetic fields without increasing in viscosity.
The homemade ferrofluid outperformed commercial samples in spiking tests, suggesting a higher concentration and quality of magnetite nanoparticles.
Ferrofluid can be used in creative applications, such as art creation, where its unique properties allow for smooth and precise lines on paper.
The process of making ferrofluid was found to be finicky and difficult to reproduce consistently, with the speaker aiming to refine the method in future work.
The speaker is offering a giveaway of five vials of the homemade ferrofluid to viewers, highlighting the engaging nature of the project and its community aspect.
Transcripts
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