Making amorphous powder iron

[Paul-R]

What about "black sand"? Does that fit in?

If an arc were to be struck under water between electrodes of the right material (viz Jean Louis Naudin's bingofuel etc) would the shock of the changing temperatures do it? Or heating up the material and dropping it into dry ice?
Paul R.

[PaulLowrance]

Hi Liberty,

Powdered magnetite could work if they were nano size particles. Is there such a small mesh size powder?  I've seen 300 mesh, which is around 50 microns (um).  I think 10 nm would be something like 2,000,000 mesh.

I've heard of nanocrystalline magnetite and I used to think it was very common, but it seems this greatly varies in nature.  Anyhow, it would definitely pay off to at least try. Wouldn't it be great if the "smoking gun" design core consisted of grabbing a small bucket of dirt, sifting out the magnetite by placing a PM certain distance from dirt to collect magnetite, and then mix some binder purchased at a local hardware store.


Hi Paul-R,

I believe black sand consists of Hematite, and/or Magnetite, and/or Maghemite.  We could easily separate Hematite thereby leaving both Magnetite and Maghemite, which is fine.


Any recommendations on a binder? Would some type of epoxy work?

Regards,
Paul Lowrance

[Paul-R]

Both Ron Classen and the Mullers (?Mollers) used epoxy resin for a similar purpose, I reckon:
http://www.theverylastpageoftheinternet.com/ElectromagneticDev/Ron_Classen/coil%20cores.htm
Paul R.

[Liberty]

Hi Liberty,

Powdered magnetite could work if they were nano size particles. Is there such a small mesh size powder?  I've seen 300 mesh, which is around 50 microns (um).  I think 10 nm would be something like 2,000,000 mesh.

I've heard of nanocrystalline magnetite and I used to think it was very common, but it seems this greatly varies in nature.  Anyhow, it would definitely pay off to at least try. Wouldn't it be great if the "smoking gun" design core consisted of grabbing a small bucket of dirt, sifting out the magnetite by placing a PM certain distance from dirt to collect magnetite, and then mix some binder purchased at a local hardware store.


Hi Paul-R,

I believe black sand consists of Hematite, and/or Magnetite, and/or Maghemite.  We could easily separate Hematite thereby leaving both Magnetite and Maghemite, which is fine.


Any recommendations on a binder? Would some type of epoxy work?

Regards,
Paul Lowrance

Hi Paul,

I think your issue will rather be how to make a magnet domain only that small, rather than particle size of the magnetite powder.  The magnetite that I have is about like the toner you would find in a 300dpi laser printer.  If you could make magnets using the size of the magnetite powder particles, you would at least be able to test your model to see if it will work.

I would think that no matter what size the particle is, it will bind together with other particles when you try to magnetize it unless physically separated.  Smaller particle size could be an enhancement for later improvement. You might use a filler to separate the particles, but then you loose the magnetic ability of the powder because it is so spread out.  A bit of a catch 22.

I hope it goes well for you.
Best wishes.