Magnetoviscosity of semidilute ferrofluids and the role of dipolar interactions: Comparison of molecular simulations and dynamical mean-field theory

Abstract

Extensive molecular simulations on a model ferrofluid are performed in order to study magnetoviscous and viscoelastic phenomena in semidilute ferrofluids. Simulation results of the nonequilibrium magnetization, shear viscosity, and normal stress differences are presented. Rotational and configurational contributions to the shear viscosity are analyzed and their influence on the magnetoviscous effect is discussed. The simplified model of noninteracting magnetic dipoles describes the nonequilibrium magnetization and the rotational viscosity, but does not account for configurational viscosity contributions and normal stress differences. Improved mean-field models that overcome these limitations show good agreement with the simulation results for weak dipolar interactions where the models should apply. Comparisons to simulation results for various interaction strengths allow us to determine the range of validity of the mean-field models.