I have been attempting ferrofluid synthesis for a few weeks now. Have experienced various results with a few different formulas. Most recently I have been using pcb etching solution as FeCl3 and going about the recipe usually discussed on the boards.
The closest thing to oleic acid I can get is a blend of omega oils, 3, 6, and 9.
I have two different forks in the road now before I go home and try this again.
One, I have definitely precipitated magnetite in the ferrous chloride solution. It it black and responds to a magnetic field. I let it sit with a container for 24 hours and a clear solution separated and sat on top. I extracted it with a syringe and separated it from the magnetite mixture. I assume that this is ammonia, possibly some water that was in the ferric chloride. It smells very heavily of ammonia. The black magnetite solids solution still has the smell of ammonia and I intend to cook It with the oleic acid blend.
This is part two. This is from a health food store. I intend to add 15 ml of this blend since it is about 30% oleic acid. The last time I tried this, I was left with a magnetic sludge. I wonder now whether I should add 15-20 ml of oil? The program calls for 5 ml oleic acid.
If anyone has any idea about what the clear liquid floating on top was, whether I should leave it in the mix before boiling( I figured I would be doing myself a favor by removing ammonia without boiling), or info about extracting oleic acid from a blend, should hit up this thread. I am looking forward to giving some video feedback here!!!
