A computer simulation of the microstructure of a particulate dispersion

Abstract

A computational simulation of a dispersion of iron particles undertaken to study the influence of the magnetostatic interactions on the microstructure of a particle ensemble is reported herein. The simulation considers an equilibrium state derived from an initial random state by the force-bias Monte Carlo technique. This method favors particle moves in the direction of the magnetostatic forces. A three dimensional ensemble in zero field and a saturating field are studied. An approach which takes into account the magnetostatic interactions between clusters by allowing Monte Carlo moves of whole clusters has been developed. This approach leads to the formation of extended networks consisting of particles in strongly bound clusters which themselves interact and give rise to an extended network. This is similar to the long-range order observed in practical dispersions. The structure analysis is found to characterize the local order, being especially sensitive to anisotropy in the order produced by an aligning field.