Dielectrics and rheology of dispersed magnetized particles

Abstract

A dispersion of iron globules in a nonaqueous vehicle showed only little particle agglomeration. When placed in a magnetic field, however, the particles showed strong agglomerating tendencies, leading to the formation of linear particle chains. These chains are orientated in a magnetic field, but show a random orientation in the absence of a magnetic field. Dielectric characteristics gave a more accurate picture of the inner structure of the dispersion than did rheological data, since the shear necessarily applied in the latter case destroys the particle agglomeration.