Role of inter-particle force between micro and nano magnetic particles on the stability of magnetorheological fluid

The concept of phase condensation of larger size particles in a poly-dispersed magnetic fluid (also known as ferrofluid) is employed as a tool to investigate the interaction of nanoparticles with micro particles in magnetorheological (MR) fluid. Two different shapes iron micron sized particles are used in MR fluid formulation: spherical and flake shaped. The magnetic fluid is used as a base carrier having three different magnetic nanoparticles volume fraction (0.2%, 0.6% and 0.8%). The study suggests that the interaction of magnetic nanoparticles with micron sized particle depends on the geometrical shape of the particle as well as surface roughness. The sedimentation ratio of flake shaped MR fluid increases with nanoparticles volume fractions while for spherical particles it remains virtually constant. The supernatant fluid analysis suggests that, larger sized particle fraction from magnetic fluid are attached to the surface of micron sized flake shape particles, which results in reduction of sliding friction between the particles and small sized fraction clouds around the flake. The atomic force microscopy results suggest that the surface roughness of flake shape particles are nearly 5 times higher than spherical shape particles. The role of these two different interactions is reflected in the sedimentation ratio of MR fluid.