What do you do with a squishy magnet?

[nancylebov]

This magnet exhibits magnetostrictive properties—that is, it changes shape in the presence of a magnetic field. The shape changes as the magnetic field changes. Use this fact to make products that change texture and feel.

This magnet is created by mixing hard ferrite particles (iron) with a polyethylene gel. During the curing process, it is magnetized using a large magnetic coil. The ferrite particles align themselves with the north and south poles.

Inventables is a place to find odd materials at low enough prices that they can be used in small projects.

Link thanks to Marginal Revolution.

Comments

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of the magnetic slime a kid made back in Virginia. Must have been the 80s, because they were selling it at Grande Junquetion, which has been gone for ages.

[infintysquared.livejournal.com]

thnidu mentioned this post to me, hiya.

Hmm... I'm thinking, rubber bullets for gauss rifles - For when you need to convert your horrendously overpowered sci-fi slugthrower to nonlethal capabilities!
(It's a new material, so of course the first instinct is, 'How can we weaponise this?')