Created by: Dan Busby

This suspension of cornstarch in water is known as a dilatant, or shear thickening, material. The viscosity of the fluid increases with the shear forces, and is even time dependent. Shear-thickening fluids and shear thinning fluids (such as paint) are collectively known as Non- Newtonian Fluids, since they do not have a simple value for their viscosity.

If you try to push your finger quickly into the liquid, it will act like a solid. But if you gently push your finger into it, it will act like a liquid. It is non-toxic and easily washes out of clothing with water.

Syynergist Dan Busby put a giant glop of the stuff onto a large waterproof speaker encased inside an industrial glovebox. This allowed guests to play with the messy stuff without getting messy themselves. Furthermore, the speaker, when vibrating at low frequencies, makes this semi-solid “dance”. A UV light and fluorescent dye gave the mixture an alien appearance.

Shown at:

• Mindshare 3/2009
• LACMA Halloween Ball 2009

More Information

Please contact us for more info about Non-Newtonian Fluids.