Inverse Ferrofluids Research Articles

Design of smart lubricants using the inverse ferrofluid approach

A new formulation is proposed to lubricate tribopairs in extreme conditions where the amount of lubricant is small and the lubricating region highly confined. It is composed of non-magnetic solid lubricants dispersed in an oil-based ferrofluid. When this inverse ferrofluid (IFF) is magnetically activated, the lubricant particles are subjected to magnetophoretic forces. By using appropriate magnetic field gradients, they can be driven to the region of interest and thus control the friction locally. The rheological and tribological performances of three IFF formulations are evaluated in several conditions of applied magnetic field strength and shear flow rates.

Magnetic permeability of inverse ferrofluid emulsion: Nonlinear ferrofluid magnetization law

This paper is devoted to the mathematical modeling of the nonmonotonic and nonlinear behavior of the magnetic permeability of inverse ferroemulsion under the influence of a uniform external magnetic field (Dikansky et al., 2011). The presented model is an extension of the model developed for the case of weak external magnetic field (Subbotin, 2018), in which the ferrofluid magnetization law is linear. The nonlinear ferrofluid magnetization law is taken into account via the first-order modified mean-field theory (MMF1) (Ivanov et al., 2001). The results show a good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the experimental data.

The liquid-solid change phase method for the experiment of inverse ferrofluis topology

Inverse ferrofluids refers to ferrofluids containing micron grade nonmagnetic particles. The typical inverse ferrofluids include nanowires, MAGIC fluids, magnetic complex fluids, magnetorheological fluids and bubbles. We will give a new kind of experimental method, namely liquid-solid phase change method. The liquid containing magnetic particles stirred uniformly is poured into the funnel of the experimental device, which forms a natural flow under the action of its own gravity. After that, the whole experimental device was placed in a low temperature environment. When the temperature of ferrofluids was lower than the crystal temperature of paraffin wax, the flow process stopped naturally. The experimental method is mainly through the experimental observation of the fluid dynamic behavior after the low transparency liquid or the opaque milky liquid with the addition of micron particles, which can overcome the limitation of the PIV, which can only observe the hydrodynamic behavior of particles added to the transparent liquid.

Magnetic permeability of inverse ferrofluid emulsion: an influence of interdroplet interaction

Magnetic permeability of inverse ferrofluid emulsion: an influence of interdroplet interaction

Label-Free Alignment of Nonmagnetic Particles in a Small Uniform Magnetic Field.

Label-free manipulation of biological entities can minimize damage, increase viability and improve efficiency of subsequent analysis. Understanding the mechanism of interaction between magnetic and nonmagnetic particles in an inverse ferrofluid can provide a mechanism of label-free manipulation of such entities in a uniform magnetic field. The magnetic force, induced by relative magnetic susceptibility difference between nonmagnetic particles and surrounding magnetic particles as well as particle-particle interaction were studied. Label-free alignment of nonmagnetic particles can be achieved by higher magnetic field strength (Ba), smaller particle spacing (R), larger particle size (rp1), and higher relative magnetic permeability difference between particle and the surrounding fluid (Rμr). Rμr can be used to predict the direction of the magnetic force between both magnetic and nonmagnetic particles. A sandwich structure, containing alternate layers of magnetic and nonmagnetic particle chains, was studied. This work can be used for manipulation of nonmagnetic particles in lab-on-a-chip applications.

Towards a universal master curve in magnetorheology

We demonstrate that inverse ferrofluids behave as model magnetorheological fluids. A universal master curve is proposed, using a reduced Mason number, under the frame of a structural viscosity model where the magnetic field strength dependence is solely contained in the Mason number and the particle concentration is solely contained in the critical Mason number (i.e. the yield stress). A linear dependence of the critical Mason number with the particle concentration is observed that is in good agreement with a mean (average) magnetization approximation, particle level dynamic simulations and micromechanical models available in the literature.

Magnetic Trapping of Bacteria at Low Magnetic Fields.

A suspension of non-magnetic entities in a ferrofluid is referred to as an inverse ferrofluid. Current research to trap non-magnetic entities in an inverse ferrofluid focuses on using large permanent magnets to generate high magnetic field gradients, which seriously limits Lab-on-a-Chip applications. On the other hand, in this work, trapping of non-magnetic entities, e.g., bacteria in a uniform external magnetic field was studied with a novel chip design. An inverse ferrofluid flows in a channel and a non-magnetic island is placed in the middle of this channel. The magnetic field was distorted by this island due to the magnetic susceptibility difference between this island and the surrounding ferrofluid, resulting in magnetic forces applied on the non-magnetic entities. Both the ferromagnetic particles and the non-magnetic entities, e.g., bacteria were attracted towards the island, and subsequently accumulate in different regions. The alignment of the ferrimagnetic particles and optical transparency of the ferrofluid was greatly enhanced by the bacteria at low applied magnetic fields. This work is applicable to lab-on-a-chip based detection and trapping of non-magnetic entities bacteria and cells.

Model magnetorheology: A direct comparative study between theories, particle-level simulations and experiments, in steady and dynamic oscillatory shear

We investigate model magnetorheological (MR) fluids (inverse ferrofluids) under both steady and dynamic oscillatory shear. Analytical theories, particle-level simulations, and magnetorheometry are used in an attempt to obtain universal master curves. Steady shear flow data can be collapsed when plotted as a function of a dimensionless Mason number. The critical Mason number associated with the transition from magnetostatic to hydrodynamic control of the suspension structure is demonstrated to linearly increase with particle concentration which is in good agreement with theories and our simulations. Experimental linear viscoelastic moduli are in good agreement with micromechanical and macroscopic models in the dilute regime. However, upon increasing particle concentration, theoretical predictions underestimate experimental data while particle-level simulations are in good agreement. The accordance with particle-level simulations suggests that the mean (average) magnetization approximation gives a good prediction and multibody and hydrodynamic forces are not expected to play a crucial role in the shear flow behavior of model MR fluids.

Effect of particle aspect ratio in magnetorheology

We investigate the influence of the aspect ratio of the dispersed particles in magnetorheology. Two systems are studied: conventional magnetorheological fluids prepared by dispersion of nickel nanowires, and inverse ferrofluids prepared by dispersion of glass fibers in a ferrofluid. In both cases the apparent yield stress is found to increase with aspect ratio in contradiction to available models in the literature. Experimental observations demonstrate that the particle volume fraction within the aggregates initially increases with increasing the aspect ratio of the dispersed particles. When the aspect ratio is further raised, a gel-like percolating structure forms inhibiting the formation of elongated clusters in the field direction.

Direction-dependent freezing of diamagnetic colloidal tracers suspended in paramagnetic ionic liquids.

The dynamic behavior of an inverse ferrofluid consisting of diamagnetic, spherical silica particles suspended in the paramagnetic ionic liquid (EMIm)2[Co(NCS)4] is investigated by means of x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy in the presence of an external magnetic field. Dipole-dipole interactions between the diamagnetic holes in the paramagnetic continuum of the suspending medium induce a direction-dependence of the diffusive motion of the colloidal particles: due to a magnetic repulsion perpendicular to the direction of an external field the diffusive motion of the colloidal particles is selectively frozen in this direction.

Inverse magnetorheological fluids.

We report a new kind of field-responsive fluid consisting of suspensions of diamagnetic (DM) and ferromagnetic (FM) microparticles in ferrofluids. We designate them as inverse magnetorheological (IMR) fluids for analogy with inverse ferrofluids (IFFs). Observations on the particle self-assembly in IMR fluids upon magnetic field application showed that DM and FM microparticles were assembled into alternating chains oriented along the field direction. We explain such assembly on the basis of the dipolar interaction energy between particles. We also present results on the rheological properties of IMR fluids and, for comparison, those of IFFs and bidispersed magnetorheological (MR) fluids. Interestingly, we found that upon magnetic field application, the rheological properties of IMR fluids were enhanced with respect to bidispersed MR fluids with the same FM particle concentration, by an amount greater than the sum of the isolated contribution of DM particles. Furthermore, the field-induced yield stress was moderately increased when up to 30% of the total FM particle content was replaced with DM particles. Beyond this point, the dependence of the yield stress on the DM content was non-monotonic, as expected for FM concentrations decreasing to zero. We explain these synergistic results by two separate phenomena: the formation of exclusion areas for FM particles due to the perturbation of the magnetic field by DM particles and the dipole-dipole interaction between DM and FM particles, which enhances the field-induced structures. Based on the second phenomenon, we present a theoretical model for the yield stress that semi-quantitatively predicts the experimental results.

Steady shear magnetorheology of inverse ferrofluids

Silica-based inverse ferrofluids (IFFs) are synthesized and their pre-yield and post-yield rheological properties are investigated as a function of magnetic field strength (8.8–276 kA/m), volume fraction (12.6–26.1 vol %), silica particle size (104–378 nm radius), and ferrofluid Newtonian viscosity (44–559 mPa s). The Mason number (Mn) provides a good scaling of the data in the steady simple shear flow regime. Special emphasis is made on the low and moderate Mason number region. At low Mn values, two different behaviors are observed depending on the IFF formulation and magnetic field strength applied: (i) either the viscosity monotonically increases with decreasing shear rate suggesting the existence of a yield stress (ii) or a low-shear plateau is reached. At medium Mn values, a power law behavior is found η/η∞∝MnΔ with −1<Δ<−2/3. Yielding behavior is modeled by using both macroscopic and microscopic approaches under the assumption of spheroidal, cylindrical, and single-width particle chain models.

Small-Amplitude Oscillatory Shear Magnetorheology of Inverse Ferrofluids

A comprehensive investigation is performed on highly monodisperse silica-based inverse ferrofluids under small-amplitude oscillatory shear in the presence of external magnetic fields up to 1 T. The effect of particle volume fraction and continuous medium Newtonian viscosity is thoroughly investigated. Experimental results for storage modulus are used to validate existing micromechanical magnetorheological models assuming different particle-level field-induced structures.

Structure of Polydisperse Inverse Ferrofluids: Theory and Computer Simulation

By using theoretical analysis and molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the structure of colloidal crystals formed by nonmagnetic microparticles (or magnetic holes) suspended in ferrofluids (called inverse ferrofluids), by taking into account the effect of polydispersity in size of the nonmagnetic microparticles. Such polydispersity often exists in real situations. We obtain an analytical expression for the interaction energy of monodisperse, bidisperse, and polydisperse inverse ferrofluids. Body-centered tetragonal (bct) lattices are shown to possess the lowest energy when compared with other sorts of lattices and thus serve as the ground state of the systems. Also, the effect of microparticle size distributions (namely, polydispersity in size) plays an important role in the formation of various kinds of structural configurations. Thus, it seems possible to fabricate colloidal crystals by choosing appropriate polydispersity in size.

DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR AND YIELDING OF FIELD-RESPONSIVE PARTICULATE SUSPENSIONS

We have examined the small strain response of an inverse ferrofluid system, consisting of micron-sized inert particles dispersed in a ferrofluid, which is a magnetisable liquid consisting of single domain magnetite nanoparticles. Under a magnetic field the inert particles will form elongated aggregates in the field direction, analogous to a magnetorheological fluid. It was found that the fluid appeared to have a Bingham fluid-like yield stress when analysed using the flow curve. However careful study of the behavior at very low shear rates revealed an ever decreasing shear stress. In addition, the behavior of conventional magnetorheological fluids at large strains under steady shear flow and constant magnetic field was also studied, and the results compared to particle-level computer simulations.

Magnetophoresis of Nonmagnetic Particles in Ferrofluids

Ferrofluids containing nonmagnetic particles are called inverse ferrofluids. On the basis of the Ewald−Kornfeld formulation and the Maxwell−Garnett theory, we theoretically investigate the magnetophoretic force exerting on the nonmagnetic particles in inverse ferrofluids due to the presence of a nonuniform magnetic field, by taking into account the structural transition and long-range interaction. We numerically demonstrate that the force can be adjusted by choosing appropriate lattices, volume fractions, geometric shapes, and conductivities of the nonmagnetic particles, as well as frequencies of external magnetic fields.

Preparation and characterization of magnetic PVC nanocomposites

A new method was developed in order to achieve an excellent dispersion of magnetite onto a polymer matrix. For that a ferrofluid was prepared containing nanometric size (15nm) magnetite and di-octyl phthalate (PVC plasticizer), this ferrofluid was dispersed in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastisol and magnetic PVC films were made by static casting from plastisols and ferrofluids based on magnetite. Flexible films were characterized by vibration sample magnetometry, and stress-strain testing; rheometry was used to characterize the ferrofluid and the (PVC) plastisols containing ferrofluid (inverse ferrofluid). The effect of magnetite content on the magnetic and mechanical properties of the films was studied and showed an increase on magnetization values with magnetic loading and a variation in the stress-strain with magnetic loading as function of magnetic load content. It was found that the inverse ferrofluid showed a Bingham fluid behavior.

Solid to liquid transition of inverse ferrofluids under shear

By dispersing microsized monodisperse polystyrene particles in ferrofluid, an ideal magnetorheological model fluid is created. Due to the dipolar interactions of the particles the hybrid fluid shows solid like behavior under shear, i.e. one has to overcome an apparent yield stress before flow sets in. We compare this quantity with theoretical predictions for different magnetic fields and volume fractions of nonmagnetic particles.

The influence of particle size on the magnetorheological properties of an inverse ferrofluid

The dependence of magnetorheological properties on particle size is studied, using a model magnetorheological fluid consisting of nonmagnetic silica particles suspended in a ferrofluid. For small particles a strong increase of magnetorheological properties with particle size was found. At a certain particle size and field strength a crossover occurs to a regime where there is only a very limited size dependence. This can be understood in terms of the length of the chains in relation to the gap size of the geometry. Crossover occurs when the average chain length becomes comparable to the gap size. The remaining size dependence may be explained by polydispersity, variations in the morphology, variations in the sterically stabilizing layer of the particles and surface roughness of the geometry.

Linear viscoelasticity of an inverse ferrofluid.

A magnetorheological fluid consisting of colloidal silica spheres suspended in an organic ferrofluid is described. Its linear viscoelastic behavior as a function of frequency, magnetic field strength, and silica volume fraction was investigated with a specially designed magnetorheometer. The storage modulus G' is at least an order of magnitude larger than the loss modulus G" at all magnetic field strengths investigated. G' does depend only weakly on frequency, and linearly on volume fraction. A model is presented for the high frequency limit of the storage modulus G'(infinity). In the model our system is treated as a collection of single noninteracting chains of particles. Assuming a dipolar magnetic interaction, theory and experiment show reasonable agreement at high frequencies.