ferrofluid moving magnetic sculptures

a still from ‘ferro fluid and magnetic paint experiment’ by roadnarrows all images and video courtesy the artist

a fluid specialist and pyrotech from aurora, colorado, USA known as roadnarrows has developed a series of videos, shot at close range, demonstrating the power of fluid dynamics. through a collection of films picturing his experimentation with polarized solutions, the inventor creates unintentional art works that display the laws and nature of magnetic force.

the magnetic waves observed in each of roadnarrow’s moving sculpture films are formed from a black fluid solution comprised of dissolved nanoscale ferromagnetic particles known as ‘ferrofluid’. these are achieved through the positioning of magnetic fields of varying degrees of strength, and from differing angles, around the polarized material. the ferromagnetic particles are added to a solvent such as water, alcohol or oil to enable a more flexible range of movement as a permanent magnet disturbs the liquid.

read more about magnetism in design with designboom’s previous coverage of jólan van der wiel’s gravity stool.

‘ferro fluid and magnetic paint experiment’ by roadnarrows the artist experimented with varied ratio of ferrofluids with magnetic wall paint, resulting in a ‘forest of spikes’

the exterior of the ferrofluid develops a series of regular spikes from the once-smooth surface area when ‘normal-field instability’ is present. when the magnetic particles are introduced to a very strong vertical magnetic field, the small formations which jut out from the liquid– the ferrofluid is resisting gravity in addition to surface tension. therefore, the energy expended upon this interaction develops these rises and falls from the surface area. the battle of these elements also create the observed movement as the magnetic and gravitational energies play off of one another, the ferrofluid dancing from the opposing influences of these forces.

‘ferrofluid with 4 inch rare earth magnet’ by road narrows the liquid is moved by a four inch ring neodymium magnent suspended above the solution which is contained in a metal bowl

‘ferrofluid in shallow dish’ by roadnarrows

in ‘ferrofluid in shallow dish’, the artist pictures the effect of a magnetic field upon a contained space of ferrofluid submerged in a solvent. with an absence of normal-field instability, the ferrofluid instead moves gracefully in distinct writhing lines of black magnetic particles against the white background through the use of a permanent magnet and the natural shifts in the magnetic field.

a still from ‘ferrofluid in shallow dish’

an image from ‘ferrofluid with 4 inch rare earth magnet’

via typologica