ITP might be unlike most educational institutions. After all, there are few classic lectures. We write few papers. And we are strongly encouraged to socialize. But even a school unorthodox as ours does tend to hold to some common characteristics within classes. Perhaps it is Amanda’s limited exposure to the way many classes are structured, but last week’s class in Biology and Materiality was a delightful deviation into the land of non-Newtonian liquids, bacteria cultures, nitinol, and UV sensitive paint. We were let loose to play with a collection of fun and quirky materials.
Ferrofluid
Ferrofluid in a clear bowl. The area where it becomes spiky marks where a collection of magnets are hanging underneathOne of the best materials to play with was the Ferrofluid. Ferrofluid is composed of magnetic particles suspended in a carrier fluid so that, when in the presence of a magnetic field, the fluid takes on a distinct form. While highly susceptible to magnetism, ferrofluids do not retain their shape in the absence of a magnetic field. Thus, they behave as liquids in the absence of a magnetic fields but take on semi-rigid form in the presence of a magnet. They are, quite possibly, some of the most entertaining materials to play with.
Such a mess…Thermachromic Ink
My next favorite material that we played with was the thermochromic ink. Thermochromic inks are temperature sensitive compounds that change color with heat, temporarily. We actually had the use of simple thermochromic particles in a form similar to sand, which we mixed with glue and painted on a piece of paper. Buying the material in such a form is particularly promising since it allows for a flexibility in what base fluid is used for application.
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