SANS study of concentration effect in magnetite/oleic acid/benzene ferrofluid

The effect of the colloidal particle concentration on the structure of the magnetite/C6D6 ferrofluid stabilized by oleic acid is investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). A significant decrease in the thickness of the surfactant layer with increase in the magnetite concentration is observed. This points to the fact that the interparticle interaction increasing with the concentration presses the surfactant tails in the layer closer against the magnetite surface. The influence of magnetic scattering on the SANS curves is considered.