magnetic silly putty

Thinking Putty (also known as Silly Putty) is a silicone polymer children's toy. Silly putty is fun because it has some unique properties: it is viscoelastic, meaning it can be stretched and shaped and mashed back together again; and as its apparent viscosity increases directly with respect to the amount of force applied (read: it can be torn or shattered with impact). Silly putty is a non-Newtonian viscoelastic polymer, better characterized as a dilatant fluid. Also, it bounces.

Ok, enough science. I'm sure we've all played with Thinking Putty in our youth, but how about magnetic silly putty?

By adding a ferrous component to an already wacky toy we can keep all characteristics of the original putty, but now have the additional dimension of magnetism! I've seen magnetic thinking putty for sale on other websites, but I'll show you how you can make your own for a fraction of the price and in about 20 minutes.

Enough talk, let's make some magnetic putty!

Step 1 Tools + materials

tools: disposable gloves (latex or other) disposable face mask disposable work area (paper plate)

materials: Thinking Putty ($2.00 or less) - any colour ferric iron oxide powder (artist supply stores) neodymium magnet

The secret ingredient that makes the putty magnetic is an iron oxide powder, which is ferric (magnetic). Ferric iron oxide is a fine powder used as black pigment and can be found at art stores. If your local artist supply store doesn't carry it, you can always purchase it online.

Comments

[mikeasaurus]

No.
Oxide powder is found in lots of pigments and is a descriptive term used for the mashed up minerals used to create what particular pigmentation, not all oxides are magnetic. Iron oxide is ferrous (magnetic) and is found in black or red.

But iron isn't the only magnetic mineral that is used in pigments. There might be another colour that works! Why not bring a magnet to the store and see which ones are magnetic? _{^{(hint, hint!)}}

I'll even double the 3-Month membership and throw down mad patches to anyone to post a colour other than black!!

[Terranan]

OMNOMNOMNOM MAGNET

[mitch and sean]

Is it the smart mass thinking putty or can it be bouncing putty . Does it have to be that exact putty.

[dzmelik]

Yea I'm not sure which putty we need

[jhuang7]

Does it shatter?

[or_ford98]

the real question is... but will it blend?

[fantastikrauss]

This guy gets it.

[BLUEBLOBS2]

(removed by author or community request)

[lemonie]

What are you just saying?

L

[techno guy]

How do you polarize the putty?

[mikeasaurus]

You can polarize the putty (albeit temporarily) by having the magnet rest against the putty for a few moments (without the putty devouring the magnet). When the magnet is removed the putty should keep it's polarity and be able to lift small, light objects like tacks and paperclips.

[jtc10512]

I know that some magnets are made by running intense current between the poles. (apparently not applicable to silicone putty) But, if such a thing can be done to the powder before hand, that would be awesome. :)

[mmartin7]

the magnet is the only polarized thing in this experiment

[mmartin7]

you dont

[ericmcd84]

I wasted $17 today to learn that not any black pigment will work. I even brought the magnet into the art store and tested the pigment which was definitely magnetic, but when mixed with the putty it wasn't anywhere near strong enough to even phase the magnets. The magnets I used are insane too - they have an attraction field of about 3-4". And I can't find Schmincke pigments anywhere locally. I guess I get to go back and find some pigments with serious magnetic attraction. The other huge difference I noticed in mine versus the one shown was that mine was very dry and very hard - the putty shown looks almost like a liquid. I have no clue what I'm doing wrong, but I'm going to blame it on the pigment I bought and try again.

I did learn that ferric pigments are only in the earth-tone range, though - black, brown, yellow, red, and orange. So no blue, green or violet.

[mikeasaurus]

@Ericmcd84

"mine was very dry and very hard - the putty shown looks almost like a liquid"
 

The viscosity of the putty used will definitely effect the results with your magnetic putty. Your putty should look 'wet' without any pigment added. If your pigment powder was magnetic when you placed a magnet next to it in the store it should work in this application.

Also, while black, brown and red pigments are ferromagnetic some blends of other colours (cobalt blue) may also be magnetic. But, they'll mostly be earthy tones that use iron derivative (Fe) as the main blending ingredient.

[llord]

Does it matter what color the iron oxide is?

[jhuang7]

can i use Precious metal because i dont have any iron oxide powder

[ttrevor2]

Funny I thought I read that I should wear gloves, but in the photos the guy doesn't have gloves and in fact has very dirty fingers.

[SkittleSam]

I bet if you cracked open a gow stick and put the glow stuff in the putty, it would be glow in the dark.... I'll try it and see...

[XOIIO]

No, glowsticks are a chemical reaction, so it's limited. You would need somethng like phoshorus to make it glow.

[insuranceman1]

Finally-- all my life I've been looking for glow-in-the-dark magnetic silly putty.

I'm serious. This sounds awesome.

[madison78]

I had recently heard about thinking putty and how it works and all. Since then I was on the lookout for the components of the same and I am glad that I could find it out here. It seems that a great deal of silicone polymer is used judging by the apparent viscoelastic property it shows. However, the idea of adding magnetic property to the same bouncing ball seems very intriguing and I am going to try this out myself. I am going to recommended it to my friend he is a member of the San Francisco contractors club , they might find this very useful.

[1ofakindwork]

I think that stuff is toxic to get on your skin, so be careful....

[SkittleSam]

would that count as "another color" in your contest?

[dombeef]

I ment it wont glow well, I dont know about it being another color

[dombeef]

It wont, it will just be very sticky and glow slightly

[SkittleSam]

The glow stuff isnt poison is it?

[dombeef]

No, but I have tried mixing water with silly putty, it becomes very sticky and wont come off of your hands.

Also the glass in the glow stick might not be well in the silly put that you will touch and squeeze

[blueblobbs]

here's another question I have, can you also use iron fillings.

[mikeasaurus]

yes, but coarse filings may hurt your hands when playing with the putty. You need fine filings, like a powder. In the comments somewhere there was someone who successfully made this with the iron from an old cassette tape, that might be a good place to start!

[blueblobbs]

Can you use a magnet besides neodymium magnets?

[mikeasaurus]

The stronger the magnetic field the more dramatic the results are.

[blueblobbs]

Thanks
----Blueblobbs

[80$man]

Epicness!

[Kiteman]

Mike, did you know your putty has been featured on New Scientist TV??

[dombeef]

Hmm, what would happen if you would put a current through it?

[mikeasaurus]

We tried, the pigment is not conductive (at least not enough for any results when we tested it). I've done some experimenting with other mediums and materials, stay tuned for the results....

[dombeef]

Ah, maybe for one result you could try to put as much iron oxide powder as you can into the putty or a mixture of graphite and iron oxide!

[Mutantflame]

Are you still offering the 3 month membership? I made it with red iron oxide and it works!