I would love to make magnetic slime (pva glue, borax powder, iron filings) for my class. Any online methods have iron filings but they would rust in seconds here in Asia.
Is there another metal 'powder' I could use? Easily available, magnetic and less prone to oxidisation or are the magnetism and oxidisation chemically linked?
Some stainless steel is magnetic. You'd need a ferritic grade
Iron, nickel, cobalt and manganese are the only four metals considered magnetic.
Nickel powder may work?
There's a company in Oz that seem to do ferritic stainless powder: http://www.metalpowders.com.au/products/stainless-steel-powders-and-flakes.html
400 grade stainless steel.
I'd avoid using Borax powder due to its repotox hazards i.e. "may damage fertility or the unborn child"
Which is why you can't get it in UK supermarkets.
Try Alnico, mainly Aluminium (and yes it's magnetic)...
http://www.magnetsales.com/alnico/al1.htm
That was dredged out of my memory from 'O' level physics, over 30 years ago!
As above 400 grade Stainless Steel is magnetic. What about Ferrofluid?
What you need is [url= http://www.first4magnets.com/magnetic-plaster-i228?gclid=CJSgvczqqtACFcG4GwodLVcDcQ ]magnetic plaster[/url]
Thanks all.
Borax is in our laundry detergent and this is what I was planning on using and have used in the past.
I've found an online supplier of 400 grade SS.
magnetite is the black particles you get in ferrofluid and would be the first thing to look at in this case.
You could also use an oil base to suspend any particles as this will protect them from water and oxygen. Might be messy though.
ooo and something to stick it in: https://www.inoxia.co.uk/products/chemicals/gums-resins-waxes
useful website.
I seem to remember from years ago the grade of magnetic stainless in some solenoids was 430F, so I would check before getting any 400 series st st.
Which is why you can't get it in UK supermarkets.
Maybe not in supermarkets - but you can buy it in uk shops (unless something has changed in the last 4 years)
I was working as a props / buyer on a TV shoot for science programmes a few years back - so had to buy all sorts of fun stuff like liquid nitrogen and dead frogs and rubens tubes. Borax I just bought in the local Chinese supermarket. But I've also bought it more recently online sold as woodworm treatment.
I'd avoid using Borax powder due to its repotox hazards i.e. "may damage fertility or the unborn child"
I thought the issue regarding Borax and fertility was it actually increased male fertility. But in what context is any hazard / effect presented? - Looking at it? Handling it? Drinking it? or rubbing it on your mimsy?
or rubbing it on your mimsy?
It's getting it on yer borogroves that you have to watch out for!
...(unless something has changed in the last 4 years)
It has - REACH regulations. Every chemical must now be proven to be "safe" or it can't be imported or sold within the EU.
I thought the issue regarding Borax and fertility was it actually increased male fertility. But in what context is any hazard / effect presented? - Looking at it? Handling it? Drinking it? or rubbing it on your mimsy?
There is no evidence for harm in humans, but force-feeding it to rats. rabbits, mice and dogs, then killing them and chopping them up has shown pre-cancerous changes to testicles if you feed them enough. You would need to eat a lot of borax on a regular basis to get a similar dose.
Short summary on page 9:
🙄