Rheological response of magnetic fluid containing Fe3O4 nano structures

To understand the effect of particle size on magnetorheological effect two magnetorheological (MR) fluids, composed of nano-hollow spheres (NHSs), of diameters 250 nm (MRF250) and 700 nm (MRF700), are studied. The results are compared with their solid counterpart with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) based MR fluid of 100 nm diameter (MRF100). To understand the MR mechanism the flow curves (shear stress vs shear rate) are fitted with different established models and our samples are found to follow the Bingham Plastic model. The yielding behavior of the MR fluids is found to be morphology dependent. The MR fluid with larger particles show maximum yield stress similar to 830 Pa at an applied field 0.4 T, due to the combined effect of larger surface area and higher magnetism. Hollow nano spheres show better stability than that of NPs due to compatible density with the carrier fluid.