Re(Calibrator) Phase5

With Z-Brush created geometries, I started looking into innovative ways of representing a 3D sculpture, using unexpected materials. Hence, I looked into so called non-Newtonian fluids, which change their viscosity or flow behaviour under stress. If a force is applied to such fluids (for example, if one hits, shakes or jumps on them), the sudden application of stress can cause them to get thicker and act like a solid, or in some cases it results in the opposite behaviour and they may get runnier than they were before. Remove the stress (let them sit still or only move them slowly) and they will return to their earlier state.

Here are some videos that will spread more light on the topic. "Non-Newtonian Fluid on a speaker cone" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zoTKXXNQIU)

More information on these fluids can be found here http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Science-Stories/Strange-Liquids/Non-Newtonian-fluids

And some more fun from Discovery Channel "Time Wrap Non Newtonian Fluid" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5SGiwS5L6I)

I have been contemplating on creating the Z-Brush geometry out of this fluids, employing ultrasonics.
Other highly interesting fluids I came across are the Ferrofluids. These are colloidal liquids made of nanoscale ferromagnetic, or ferrimagnetic, particles suspended in a carrier fluid (usually an organic solvent or water). Each tiny particle is thoroughly coated with a surfactant to inhibit clumping. Large ferromagnetic particles can be ripped out of the homogeneous colloidal mixture, forming a separate clump of magnetic dust when exposed to strong magnetic fields. The magnetic attraction of nanoparticles is weak enough that the surfactant's Van der Waals force is sufficient to prevent magnetic clumping or agglomeration. Ferrofluids usually do not retain magnetization in the absence of an externally applied field and thus are often classified as"superparamagnets" rather than ferromagnets. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrofluid)

In the video below, a steel sculpture with changing magnetisation is coated with ferrofluid. The fluid is pulled in the direction of increasing flux density and forms peaks, which become smaller in higher flux density. At an accumulation of fluid at ridges, the flux density at the surface decreases. The flow and the distribution of the fluid can be observed at several characteristic locations. The author is M. Lobjinski. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUz1ZI-w6LQ

I am hoping to bring these into my project by exploiting the relationship between these fluids and vibrations. And the best thing is perhaps some hands on experiments. Below is an image showing the beginning of some experimentations with ferrofluid.

Ferrofluids experiement

Meanwhile, I have conducted some detailed research revealing the scientific narrative of ferrofluids. Several types of magnetic fluids arise with FHD; the principal type is colloidal ferrofluid. A colloid is a suspension of finely divided particles in a continuous medium, including suspensions that settle out slowly. However a true ferrofluid does not settle out, even though a slight concentration gradient can become established after long exposure to a force field (gravitational or magnetic). (page 7, "Ferrohydrodynamics" by R. E. Rosensweig). A magnetic ferrofluid consists of a stable colloidal dispersion of subdomain magnetic particles in a liquid carrier. The properties of the ferrofluid are profoundly affected by the thermal Brownian motion of the suspended particles and the circumstance that each subdomain particle is permanently magnetized. (page 33, "Ferrohydrodynamics" by R. E. Rosensweig). The basis for the specific properties of magnetic fluid is the possibility to control their flow and physical characteristics by means of moderate magnetic fields with strength in the order of a few tons of mT. (page 14, "Magnetoviscous effects in Ferrofluids " by S. Odenbach).

In the example below we have a demonstration of the magnetic force acting on a ferrofluid. The fluid is attracted against gravity by the pole of a simple electromagnet. The spike structure results from an interaction of magnetic field, gravitational acceleration and the fluid's surface tension. (page 17, "Magnetoviscous effects in Ferrofluids " by S. Odenbach).

Magnetic field applied to ferrofluids

Applications of magnetic fluids are potentially very wide. In this example, we have a mechanical application of a magnetic fluid in sealing of rotating shafts. The fluid is fixed in the small gap between the axis and a surrounding permanent magnet (page 27, "Magnetoviscous effects in Ferrofluids " by S. Odenbach).

Mechanical application of ferrofluids in sealing

Another example, where a loudspeaker is cooled by a magnetic fluid kept in the magnetic gap around the voice coil. On the right side the temperature of the speaker is shown as a function of its power with and without the use of ferrofluid as cooling agent (page 28, "Magnetoviscous effects in Ferrofluids " by S. Odenbach).

Loudspeaker is cooled with ferrofluids

Some interesting effects observed in ferrofluids, include the Weissenberg-effect; in strong viscoelastic system the fluid surface is forced to form a spherical drop at the rotating axis (page 114, "Magnetoviscous effects in Ferrofluids " by S. Odenbach).

Weissenberg-effect

Some interesting effects observed in ferrofluids, include the Weissenberg-effect; in strong viscoelastic system the fluid surface is forced to form a spherical drop at the rotating axis (page 114, "Magnetoviscous effects in Ferrofluids" by S. Odenbach).

Another one is this demonstration with an electric current passing through a vertical rod running through a pool of ferrofluid. In first image we have no current present and in the second the current is turned on; the fluid leaps upward and assumes the shape shown (page 143, "Ferrohydrodynamics" by R. E. Rosensweig).

Electric current passing through the ferrofluid

These examples indicate promising new possibilities for creating dynamic, fluid, organic, shape shifting new forms. I am being hesitant about the feasibility and the practicality of such an application in fabricating the desired geometry.