Synthesis and characterization of magnetic polymer microspheres with a core-shell structure

Non-porous magnetic polymer microspheres with a core-shell structure were prepared by a novel micro-suspension polymerization technique. A stable iron oxide ferrofluid was used to supply the magnetic core, and the polymeric shell was made of glycidyl methacrylate （GMA monomer） and ethylene dimethacrylate （cross-linker）. In the preparation, polyvinyl alcohol was used as the stabilizer, and a lauryl alcohol mixture as the dispersant. The influence of various conditions such as aqueous phase volume, GMA and initiator amounts, reaction time and stirring speed on the character of the microspheres was investigated. The magnetic microspheres were then characterized briefly. The results indicate that the microspheres with active epoxy groups had a narrow size distribution range from 1 to 10 μm with a volume-weighted mean diameter of 4.5 μm. The saturation magnetization reached 19.9 emu/g with little coercivity and remanence.     

A 3D numerical simulation of mixed convection of a magnetic nanofluid in the presence of non-uniform magnetic field in a vertical tube using two phase mixture model

In this paper, results of applying a non-uniform magnetic field on a ferrofluid (kerosene and 4 vol% Fe₃O₄ ) flow in a vertical tube have been reported. The hydrodynamics and thermal behavior of the flow are investigated numerically using the two phase mixture model and the control volume technique. Two positive and negative magnetic field gradients have been examined. Based on the obtained results the Nusselt number can be controlled externally using the magnetic field with different intensity and gradients. It is concluded that the magnetic field with negative gradient acts similar to Buoyancy force and augments the Nusselt number, while the magnetic field with positive gradient decreases it. Also with the negative gradient of the magnetic field, pumping power increases and vice versa for the positive gradient case.     

Ultrasound velocimetry of ferrofluid spin-up flow measurements using a spherical coil assembly to impose a uniform rotating magnetic field

Ferrofluid spin-up flow is studied within a sphere subjected to a uniform rotating magnetic field from two surrounding spherical coils carrying sinusoidally varying currents at right angles and 90° phase difference. Ultrasound velocimetry measurements in a full sphere of ferrofluid shows no measureable flow. There is significant bulk flow in a partially filled sphere (1-14 mm/s) of ferrofluid or a finite height cylinder of ferrofluid with no cover (1-4 mm/s) placed in the spherical coil apparatus. The flow is due to free surface effects and the non-uniform magnetic field associated with the shape demagnetizing effects. Flow is also observed in the fully filled ferrofluid sphere (1-20 mm/s) when the field is made non-uniform by adding a permanent magnet or a DC or AC excited small solenoidal coil. This confirms that a non-uniform magnetic field or a non-uniform distribution of magnetization due to a non-uniform magnetic field are causes of spin-up flow in ferrofluids with no free surface, while tangential magnetic surface stress contributes to flow in the presence of a free surface.Recent work has fitted velocity flow measurements of ferrofluid filled finite height cylinders with no free surface, subjected to uniform rotating magnetic fields, neglecting the container shape effects which cause non-uniform demagnetizing fields, and resulting in much larger non-physical effective values of spin viscosity η′∼10⁻⁸−10⁻¹² N s than those obtained from theoretical spin diffusion analysis where η′≤10⁻¹⁸ N s. COMSOL Multiphysics finite element computer simulations of spherical geometry in a uniform rotating magnetic field using non-physically large experimental fit values of spin viscosity η′∼10⁻⁸−10⁻¹² N s with a zero spin-velocity boundary condition at the outer wall predicts measureable flow, while simulations setting spin viscosity to zero (η′=0) results in negligible flow, in agreement with the ultrasound velocimetry measurements. COMSOL simulations also confirm that a non-uniform rotating magnetic field or a uniform rotating magnetic field with a non-uniform distribution of magnetization due to an external magnet or a current carrying coil can drive a measureable flow in an infinitely long ferrofluid cylinder with zero spin viscosity (η′=0).     

Structure factor of ferrofluids with chain aggregates: Theory and computer simulations

In this paper we present theoretical and simulation results on the structure factor of mono- and bidisperse ferrofluids with chain aggregates, both with and without an applied external magnetic field. Chain distribution is obtained by the density functional theory (DFT). The radial distribution function (RDF) is calculated directly on the basis of the chain distribution and Fourier transformed to calculate the structure factor. An extensive comparison of the theoretical predictions to the results of the molecular dynamics computer simulations is provided. The proposed combined approach allows to elucidate the connection between experimentally observed small angle neutron scattering (SANS) images and the ferrofluid microstructure.     

Study of magnetic and structural properties of ferrofluids based on cobalt-zinc ferrite nanoparticles

Ferrofluids are colloidal systems composed of a single domain of magnetic nanoparticles with a mean diameter around 30 nm, dispersed in a liquid carrier. Magnetic Co_(1−x)Zn_xFe₂O₄ (x=0.25, 0.50, 0.75) ferrite nanoparticles were prepared via co-precipitation method from aqueous salt solutions in an alkaline medium. The composition and structure of the samples were characterized through Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies permitted determining nanoparticle size; grain size of nanoparticle conglomerates was established via Atomic Force Microscopy. The magnetic behavior of ferrofluids was characterized by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM); and finally, a magnetic force microscope was used to visualize the magnetic domains of Co_(1−x)Zn_xFe₂O₄ nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction patterns of Co_(1−x)Zn_xFe₂O₄ show the presence of the most intense peak corresponding to the (311) crystallographic orientation of the spinel phase of CoFe₂O₄. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the bonds associated to the spinel structures; particularly for ferrites. The mean size of the crystallite of nanoparticles determined from the full-width at half maximum of the strongest reflection of the (311) peak by using the Scherrer approximation diminished from (9.5±0.3) nm to (5.4±0.2) nm when the Zn concentration increases from 0.21 to 0.75. The size of the Co-Zn ferrite nanoparticles obtained by TEM is in good agreement with the crystallite size calculated from X-ray diffraction patterns, using Scherer's formula. The magnetic properties investigated with the aid of a VSM at room temperature presented super-paramagnetic behavior, determined by the shape of the hysteresis loop. In this study, we established that the coercive field of Co_(1−x)Zn_xFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles, the crystal and nanoparticle sizes determined by X-ray Diffraction and TEM, respectively, decrease with the increase of the Zn at%. Finally, our magnetic nanoparticles are not very hard magnetic materials given that the hysteresis loop is small and for this reason Co_(1−x)Zn_xFe₂O₄ nanoparticles are considered as soft magnetic material.     

Versatile ferrofluids based on polyethylene glycol coated iron oxide nanoparticles

Versatile ferrofluids based on polyethylene glycol coated iron oxide nanoparticles were obtained by a facile protocol and thoroughly characterized. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized using a modified forced hydrolysis method were functionalized with polyethylene glycol silane (PEG silane), precipitated and dried. These functionalized particles are dispersable in a range of solvents and concentrations depending on the desired properties. Examples of tunable properties are magnetic behavior, optical and magneto-optical response, thermal features and rheological behavior. As such, PEG silane functionalized particles represent a platform for the development of new materials that have broad applicability in e.g. biomedical, industrial or photonic environments. Magnetic, optical, magneto-optical, thermal and rheological properties of several ferrofluids based on PEG coated particles with different concentrations of particles dispersed in low molecular mass polyethylene glycol were investigated, establishing the applicability of such materials.     

Using genetic algorithms to characterize ferrofluid topographies in externally applied magnetic fields

Both ferrofluidics and genetic algorithms are relatively new fields. Due to complex physical interactions, ferrofluidic topographies and assemblies have only been solved using finite time step, Lattice Boltzmann, and finite-element methods in very simple magnetic field configurations. In this paper, we show that it is possible (and highly advantageous) to employ genetic algorithms to solve for the fluid topographies, which can be extended to include more complex magnetic fields.     

CoFe2O4自形成磁性液体场致结构化对磁化的影响

因为磁性液体的磁性微粒有着很强的相互作用,Langevin顺磁理论不能很好描述磁性液体的磁化强度随外磁场的变化.研究认为影响磁化的主要因素是磁性液体内微粒整体的结构化,其结构的形成储存了部分磁化功,直接或间接地影响了磁化.在此基础上提出“压缩”模型,修正了描述磁性液体常用的Langevin函数,得出了与实验较好符合的曲线.所提出的一个压缩后等效体积分数与外磁场强度的关系式,近似地描述了磁性液体在磁场中磁化的过程.由修正式得出了近似初始磁化率随体积分数变化关系.     

Field-induced motion of ferrofluids through immiscible viscous media: Testbed for restorative treatment of retinal detachment

Biocompatible, hydrophobic ferrofluids comprised of magnetite nanoparticles dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane show promise as materials for the treatment of retinal detachment. This paper focuses on the motion of hydrophobic ferrofluid droplets traveling through viscous aqueous media, whereby the movement is induced by gradients in external fields generated by small permanent magnets. A numerical method was utilized to predict the force on a spherical droplet, and then the calculated force was used to estimate the time required for the droplet to reach the permanent magnet. The calculated forces and travel times were verified experimentally.