The Disintegration of Magnetic Fluid Layer on Liquid and Solid Substrates in Vertical Magnetic Field

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to experimentally study the process of decomposition of a horizontal layer of a magnetic fluid lying on a liquid non-wettable substrate into an ordered system of drops under the influence of a vertical magnetic field.Methods. In the experiment, the studied liquids in the form of a two-layer system filling a cylindrical glass cuvette were placed on a horizontal platform in the center of the Helmholtz coils connected to a direct current source. The development of magnetic fluid layer free surface instability was monitored using a high-speed digital video camera installed at the top of the coil system.Results. The dependence of the critical strength of the magnetic field on the thickness of the torn layer and the magnetic susceptibility of the magnetic fluid is determined. The obtained experimental data are compared with the results of existing theoretical studies of the instability of the magnetic fluid layer. Compared to the case of a solid substrate, the rupture of the magnetic fluid layer on a liquid substrate occurred at lower values of the critical field strength. In this case, the development of instability of the free surface magnetic fluid layer on a solid substrate occurs at field strengths twice as high as the instability strength of the interface of the layer on a liquid substrate.Conclusion. The use of a liquid substrate makes it possible to break such layers of the magnetic fluid, the deformation of which on a solid substrate is limited only by a periodic perturbation of the surface. The magnitude of the critical strength leading to the disintegration of a continuous magnetic fluid layer on a liquid substrate increases with increasing thickness of this layer. An increase in the magnetic susceptibility of the magnetic fluid leads to a decrease in the critical field strength.