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Formation of Spikes in Aqueous Ferrofluid

Spikes in aqueous ferrofluid are formed in response to a magnet.

Discussion

Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of surfactant-coated magnetic particles in a liquid medium. Spikes of different heights form in an aqueous ferrofluid depending on the distance between the ferrofluid and a magnet.

Enzel, Patricia; Adelman, Nicholas B.; Beckman, Katie J.; Campbell, Dean J.; Ellis, Arthur B.; Lisensky, George C. Preparation and Properties of an Aqueous Ferrofluid J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 943.






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  Jerrold J. Jacobsen University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706