KingFish
2 Sep 2004, 2:37am
The world's first practical plastic magnet has been created at the University of Durham, according to a report in New Scientist magazine.
After three months of mostly fruitless experiments, researchers at the U.K. university began to detect magnetism in a mixture of two plastic polymers, and the compound has now passed its first real test: It can pick up iron filings. Although magnetic plastics have been reported before, they have only worked at extremely low temperatures. The Durham compound--made out of a conductive plastic called emeraldine base polyaniline (PANi) and a free radical generator called tetracyanoquinodimethane--is active at room temperatures.
Source: c|net (http://news.com.com/Plastic+magnet+breaks+the+mold/2100-1015_3-5343329.html?tag=nefd.top)
After three months of mostly fruitless experiments, researchers at the U.K. university began to detect magnetism in a mixture of two plastic polymers, and the compound has now passed its first real test: It can pick up iron filings. Although magnetic plastics have been reported before, they have only worked at extremely low temperatures. The Durham compound--made out of a conductive plastic called emeraldine base polyaniline (PANi) and a free radical generator called tetracyanoquinodimethane--is active at room temperatures.
Source: c|net (http://news.com.com/Plastic+magnet+breaks+the+mold/2100-1015_3-5343329.html?tag=nefd.top)