Magneto-rheological fluids redispersibility – a factorial design study of phosphate shell on carbonyl iron powder with dispersing additives

Abstract

We showed, in a previous paper, that Magneto-Rheological Fluids (MRFs) have different rheology when prepared with Carbonyl Iron Powders (CIP) phosphate (coated or uncoated). This was especially so when done without a magnetic field. This paper employs factorial design to examine the redispersibility and rheology of some MRF formulations; we use the same CIPs but with different dispersing additives. The factors are: CIP A (uncoated) or B (phosphate shell); additives with carboxylic acid or primary amine as the polar group; and n-octyl (C8H17) or n-dodecyl (C12H25) as the alkyl hydrocarbon chain (R-). CIP B was much more redispersible than CIP A, especially with amine additives; typical work values were > 5mJ @ 20 mm depth. In terms of viscosity, CIP A generated lower values, at shear rates above 100 s-1. It also realized higher yield stress values (Ho = 300 kA/m) than CIP B (50% and beyond).