The discussion revolves around the potential for plastic materials to exhibit magnetism under certain conditions, exploring the nature of magnetism and electrostatics, and whether electrostatic effects can be induced by magnetic fields. The scope includes theoretical considerations and conceptual clarifications regarding the properties of plastics and their interactions with magnetic fields.
Participants generally do not agree on the relationship between magnetism and electrostatics, with some asserting that they are fundamentally different, while others explore the possibility of interactions between the two. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the potential for plastics to exhibit magnetic properties under specific conditions.
Limitations include the dependence on definitions of magnetism and electrostatics, as well as the lack of consensus on the effects of strong magnetic fields on plastic materials.
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 said: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?
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 said: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.
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 said: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?
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.Andrew Blaine said: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?
Andrew Blaine said:That magnetism and electrostatic effects are similar in both nature and origin?
Andrew Blaine said:Is this just pie in the sky thought or does it have potential?