LIQUID MAGNETS 

ALMOST EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT SOLID-STATE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH GREASED THE TRACKS FOR HIGH SPEED GROWTH OF THE COMPUTER AND MICRO-CHIP INDUSTRY.

NOW PREPARE FOR "LIQUID STATE TECHNOLOGY", A NEW CLASS OF MATERIALS UNKNOWN IN NATURE -- FERROFLUIDS A MATERIAL THAT JUST DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE -- LIQUID MAGNETISM !

FERROFLUIDS HAVE UNIQUE PROPERTIES. THEY CONTAIN MICROSCOPIC MAGNETIC PARTICLES, EACH ABOUT 6,200 TIMES SMALLER THAN A HUMAN HAIR, THAT WHEN INFLUENCED BY A MAGNETIC FIELD DEFY GRAVITY, CAN TAKE THE SHAPE OF ITS CONTAINER, GO UPWARDS AND BEND CORNERS. MANIPULATION OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD DIRECTS THE FLOW. A FLUID IN A DISH CAN JUMP OUT TOWARDS A NEARBY MAGNET!

A FERROFLUID WILL TEND TO SHOW A 'SPIKING' EFFECT CAUSED BY THE ENERGY BALANCE BETWEEN MAGNETIC FORCES AND SURFACE TENSION. AN OBJECT, HEAVIER THAN THE FLUID ITSELF, PLACED INTO A FERROFLUID INSTEAD OF SINKING TO THE BOTTOM BECOMES BUOYANT AND DRIFTS TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE CONTAINER. THEIR ARE CONSIDERABLE ADVANTAGES TO SUCH A MATERIAL:

IN SOUTH AFRICA ONE INNOVATIVE COMPANY IS USING THIS 'SELECTIVE BUOYANCY' TO PICK OUT DIAMONDS FROM BEACH SAND!

THIS IS AN ANSWER JUST WAITING FOR THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED. AS A SEALANT IT APPEARS TO HAVE NO COMPETITORS. JUST THE THING TO HAVE AROUND ENTRANCES DURING CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WARFARE ATTACKS. OR IN A SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM THAT COULD DRIVE ITS OWN CIRCULATION.

IN MEDICINE FERROFLUIDS MAY BE THE NEW DRUG-DELIVERY SYSTEM. A FERROFLUID CARRYING A SITE SPECIFIC DRUG COULD BE GUIDED TO ITS LOCATION DIRECTLY AND HELD THERE BY A MAGNETIC FIELD UNTIL ITS TIMED DISPERSAL DID THE JOB.

THIS COULD BE MORE THAN A NEW DISCOVERY -- IT COULD BE THE START OF A NEW INDUSTRY. SOMETHING BIG. MORE INFORMATION: ROBERT COUTO, DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, FERROFLUIDICS CORP., 40 SIMON STREET, NASHUA, NH 03061.

PHONE: (603) 883-9800. TWX 710-228-8957.

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