The wonderful uses of ferrofluid in everyday life

Ferrofluid looks like something out of science fiction: a black liquid that forms spikes, waves and organic shapes whenever it meets a magnetic field. But behind the mesmerizing visuals is a serious material with real-world jobs. Before we used it to make sound visible at Volta Audio, ferrofluid was already working quietly inside devices people use every day.

What exactly is ferrofluid?

Ferrofluid is a liquid that becomes strongly magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field. It’s made of three main ingredients:

• Very small magnetic particles, each only a few nanometres in size
• A carrier liquid that keeps those particles suspended
• Special surfactants that stop the particles from clumping together

Because the particles are so small, the liquid behaves smoothly most of the time. But introduce a magnetic field and the balance changes: the ferrofluid pulls into spikes and ridges along the lines of force. That ability to respond instantly and smoothly to magnetism is what makes it so useful.

From space research to everyday devices

Ferrofluid was originally developed in the 1960s for NASA. Engineers were exploring how to move fuel in zero gravity using magnetic fields instead of pumps. The goal was practical, not artistic – but the material they created turned out to be useful in many more places.

Over the decades, ferrofluid has appeared in:

• High-end loudspeakers – Inside some tweeters, ferrofluid helps centre the moving parts, damp unwanted resonances and carry heat away from the voice coil.
• Seals and bearings – Ferrofluid can form tight seals around rotating shafts when held in place by magnets, helping keep dust and liquids out.
• Specialised sensors & instruments – In certain scientific and industrial tools, ferrofluid is used to transfer motion, damp vibration or visualise magnetic fields.

In other words, even before you ever saw ferrofluid, there’s a good chance you’d already benefited from it.

Why ferrofluid is perfect for visual audio

When we first started working with ferrofluid, it was from a technical angle: could we use it to improve the behaviour of certain audio components? But it didn’t take long for the visual side to steal the show. Watching the liquid react to a changing signal felt like watching sound draw itself in real time.

That led to the core idea behind Volta Audio: use ferrofluid not just as a hidden engineering material, but as the main character. Instead of hiding it inside a tweeter, we put it behind glass where it could finally be seen.

The qualities that make ferrofluid useful in technical systems also make it perfect for visible sound:

• It reacts immediately to changes in the signal
• It can form both smooth, flowing shapes and sharp, energetic spikes
• With the right enclosure, it stays safely contained for long-term use

Ferrofluid at home, on your desk and in your setup

Today, you can find ferrofluid not only inside speakers and instruments, but on top of desks and next to laptops – inside products like Magcube and our ferrofluid headphones. In these contexts, it’s less about pure engineering and more about experience: turning playlists into sculptural motion, letting you see a beat drop or a chorus lift.

That’s the part we love most about working with ferrofluid. It’s a rare material that can live in two worlds at once: serious technology with a playful, almost magical side.

Where we’re taking ferrofluid next

The story of ferrofluid is still being written. New formulas and applications continue to appear in labs and products around the world. At Volta Audio, our focus is simple: use it to create objects that make everyday listening feel special – whether that’s a lamp that dances with your playlists or a headset that wears its waveform on the outside.

Every time you see the liquid move inside one of our products, you’re looking at decades of research, engineering and curiosity condensed into a few drops. We think that’s a wonderful thing to have on your desk.