Can Plastic Exhibit Magnetism Under Certain Conditions?”

[Andrew Blaine]

I appreciate that under standard conditions small (c 5mm) plastic particles are apolar and thus non-magentic. However, can conditions be created under which such particles could exhibit polarity?

 

[Charles Link]

I appreciate that under standard conditions small (c 5mm) plastic particles are apolar and thus non-magentic. However, can conditions be created under which such particles could exhibit polarity?

I'm no expert on the topic, but I believe carbon and hydrogen, and any other ingredients such as chlorine in plastics are almost completely non-magnetic. Hydrogen exhibits a hyperfine, atomic (nuclear) magnetic moment, but this effect is so small, that I think the answer to your question may be, it simply won't happen.

 

[Andrew Blaine]

I'm no expert on the topic, but I believe carbon and hydrogen, and any other ingredients such as chlorine in plastics are almost completely non-magnetic. Hydrogen exhibits a hyperfine, atomic magnetic moment, but this effect is so small, that I think the answer to your question may be, it simply won't happen.

Thank you so much for yhe comment. There is one aspect that concerns me about your answer, which is that we have all experienced static build up in plastics, when they stick to fingers and clothes etc. If you are correct where is this static energy stored and how does it exist?

 

[Charles Link]

Thank you so much for yhe comment. There is one aspect that concerns me about your answer, which is that we have all experienced static build up in plastics, when they stick to fingers and clothes etc. If you are correct where is this static energy stored and how does it exist?

What you are referring to I believe is an electrostatic effect, as opposed to magnetic. In the case of styrofoam, I think the material might be of a pyroelectric type, where the material can take on a polarization from thermal effects. (I would need to research this further myself=my expertise here is limited). There are ferroelectric materials (do not confuse ferro with iron and magnetism), where the materials can spontaneously have a polarization vector associated with them in the absence of an external electric field. These materials would have an external electric field around them due to the polarization of the material.

 

[Andrew Blaine]

Again, thank you, your most recent response is most interesting I that I was under the impression. That magnetism and electrostatic effects are similar in both nature and origin? I am looking for some way in which these electrostatic effects can be induced by creating and using a strong magnetic field. Is this just pie in the sky thought or does it have potential?

 

[Charles Link]

Again, thank you, your most recent response is most interesting I that I was under the impression. That magnetism and electrostatic effects are similar in both nature and origin? I am looking for some way in which these electrostatic effects can be induced by creating and using a strong magnetic field. Is this just pie in the sky thought or does it have potential?

I would have to believe that these materials (plastics) are pretty much unaffected by magnetic fields, including very strong magnetic fields. They are simply non-magnetic.

 

[davenn]

That magnetism and electrostatic effects are similar in both nature and origin?

not really
you need to do some looking on wiki and similar places to see the differences
electro statics is just the excess or deficiency of positive or negative charges ... magnetism isn't involved

magnetism at it's basic level is the alignment of tiny magnetic fields in atoms ... electrostatics isn't involved

Is this just pie in the sky thought or does it have potential?

pie in the sky