114 Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 85 ( 1990) 114- 120

North-Holland

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MAGNETIZABLE STRUCTURE-REVERSIBLE MEDIA

V.I. KORDONSKY, Z.P. SHULMAN, S.R. GORODKIN, S.A. DEMCHUK, I.V. PROKHOROV,
E.A. ZALTSGENDLER and B.M. KHUSID
Heat and Mass TransJer Institute, BSSR Academy of Sciences, 220728 Minsk, USSR

Consideration is made of the effect of applied magnetic fields on the rheological, magnetic and thermophysical properties of
magnetorheological suspensions (MRS). In a field, the shear stress highly increases. and the thermal conductivity grows and
becomes anisotropic. Also, specific features of magnetization due to the mechanical mobility of the magnetic moment media
are shown. An invariant dependence of viscosity is obtained, the effects of mechanical memory and reversing of shear stresses
in a rotating field are revealed. The results are presented on the development of the magnetorheological effect model, on the
structuring kinetics and on the methods of controlling the flow, heat and mass transfer. The possibility is shown of the
purposeful impact on turbulent flow in an immersed jet and in a channel. Also, the results are given of theoretical and
experimental studies of the rheology of systems with a nonmagnetic dispersed phase, i.e. of suspensions of nonmagnetic
particles in a magnetic fluid and of particles of high-temperature superconducting ceramic. In both cases. the increase of shear
stress in a field can be compared with that in MRS.

1. Introduction tic, etc. sensitive to the state of the structure of the

MRS undergo substantial variations. Thus, MRE
A magnetizable structure-revesible medium is a allows direct electric signal control of the flow,
new material with controlled rheological proper- heat and mass transfer, and the electric and mag-
ties. It is a stable mixture of noncolloid magnetic netic characteristics of a fluid medium, which, in
suspended particles (about 1 rJ.m) in the fluid, its turn, provides new processes and equipment.
which are not subjected to the Brownian motion
and form rather a stable structure [l] when an
applied magnetic field is present. In this case, in a 2. Maguetorheological suspensions
dynamic system consisting of a field-formed struc-
ture and of a moving medium interacting with it, Depending on the type and concentration of
each combination of prescribed parameters (vis- the dispersed phase, the aggregation and sedimen-
cosity of the medium, magnetic properties, volume tation stability of MRSs is provided both by their
concentration of particles, field strength, shear direct structuring due to the interaction of the
rate) is consistent with a certain set of structure molecular forces of particles and by injection of
elements and with a quite definite morphology of protective colloid-type substances into a dispersed
the system, i.e. mutual orientation of elements in medium that form structural-mechanical barriers
space. Such a system induced by an applied field between particles. In what follows, as a rule. the
is manifest in nonlinear rheological effects of a entire medium must be structurized until it attains
system, i.e. in a sharp and controlled increase of viscoplastic properties. Provision of stability is a
effective viscosity, plasticity and viscoelasticity in necessary but not yet sufficient condition for a
a field. This property was later called the magne- high-effective MRS to exist. Its capability to re-
torheological effect (MRE) and ferrosuspensions versible tixotropic conversions outside a field is
which display it, magnetorheological suspensions still important. The MRS viscosity must decrease
(MRS). In addition to the changes of mechanical sharply under shear flow conditions. The last
properties, in a magnetic field other properties situation completely specified by physical and
such as thermophysical, magnetic, optical, acous- chemical properties of protective colloid is espe-

0304~8X53/90/$03.50 B 1990 - Elsevier Science Publishers B.V (North-Holland)

 V.I. Kordonsky et al. / Magnetizable
cially of importance in using MRS as a working
medium of hydraulic systems.
3. Rheological characteristics and specific features
of MRS mechanics
3. I. Constant magnetic fields
In a constant magnetic field, MRS shows a
pronounced non-Newtonian pattern of flow. Start-
ing with some shear rate (in this case, -j = 100
s--l), the shear stress increment induced by a field
practically stops depending on the shear rate. The
effective viscosity increases with field and at the
same time decreases with the shear rate as shown
in fig. 1. Rheological measurements over the range
of field strength H = 0 to 84 kA/m, shear rates
0.3 to 444 s-, temperatures 293 to 323 K and of
MRSs with a dispersed phase different with re-
spect to concentration, dispersity and magnetic
properties are generalized on the reduced coordi-
nates qr, and +r, in the form of a universal char-
acteristic invariant relative to the prescribed
parameters presented in fig. 2, (the type and con-
centration of the dispersed phase, strength and
orientation of the field, temperature). The formula
-- 1 = (Q4-40.85 is obtained and well describes
%
Fig. 1. Flow curves for carbonyl iron P-lo-based
0.1); 1, H = 0; 2, 12.7; 3, 24.2; 4, 35.0; 5, 43.6; 6, 48.0; 7, 62.0;
8, 77.0; 9, 84.0 kA/m.
structure-reversible media 115
163
U-l4
loL 103 k.+_,Hd
Fig. 2. Generalized invariant dependence of viscous properties
of MRSs.
the relation found where vi, = ~/TJ~, yp = yqN,
C=76 Pa, and q N = vN( H, T) is the characteris-
tic Newtonian viscosity of MRS [l].
The magnitude of the increase of the effective
MRS viscosity strongly depends on the orientation
of the force lines of the field relative to the flow
direction. The MRE is most pronounced at mut-
ual perpendicular orientation of the force field
lines. For concrete compositions a magnetic field
is shown to increase the effective viscosity by
more than two orders, fig. 1.
The thermomechanical properties of MRS in a
magnetic field at temperatures from the Curie
point of a dispersed ferromagnetic phase are
specified by the temperature dependence of the
medium viscosity alone. At the same time, the
simultaneous effect of a magnetic field and MRS
heating up to temperatures close to the Curie
point offers ample scope for a considerable in-
crease of the thermosensitivity of the working
medium viscosity up to complete degeneration of
the MRE. A correlation is established between a
temperature-dependent relative increase of viscos-
ity in a field and squared relative magnetization
111.
Other specific mechanical behaviours are
manifest in MRS of magnetosolid material, e.g. of
single-domain particles used as a dispersed phase.
MRE is reversible in the case of many-domain
particles, i.e. after a field is not yet applied, the
structure distorts even at every small shear rates.
MRS (+ =
MRSs of single-domain particles store the
viscosity change due to an applied magnetic field
116 V.I. Kordonsky et al. / Magnetizable structure-reversible media

4. Magnetic characteristics and MRS structure

The mechanical mobility of magnetic moment

carriers (dispersed phase particles) is a distinctive
sign of MRS as a magnetic material. Such systems
are greatly magnetized only due to the orientation
(ordering) of their structure. This means that each
level of magnetization is consistent with a com-
pletely definite magnetic particle structure. A cou-
pling between the magnetic properties of MRS
and its microstructure is well supported by the
data cited in fig. 4. Curve 1 denotes the MRS
magnetization in a polymerizing medium solidi-
fied in a high magnetic field (model of an ulti-
Fig. 3. Shear stress as a function of applied magnetic field: mately oriented structure) and curve 2 stands for
+=25oiI%,-j=444.5s-.
the one solidified outside the field (ultimately
destructed structure) [3].
The self-consistent field method [4] is used for
a theoretical description of the magnetic MRS
(hysteresis loop shown in fig. 3, points 1). At high
characteristics. In the general case, the susceptibil-
shear rates, the flow curve has no hysteresis as
ity of an oriented MRS as a system of elongated
shown in fig. 3, points 2). Moreover, the suspen-
ellipsoidal aggregates is determined as K, =
sions of single-domain particles show, in a mag-
3K,&/(3-K,I#B,), where K, is the aggregate sus-
netic field, elastic properties which were revealed
ceptibility = 5; +a = G/J, is the degree of filling
by the method of free oscillation damping.
the aggregate, $I is the volume concentration of
ferroparticles. The initial susceptibility of a system
3.2. Rotating magnetic fields of spherical particles (ultimately destructed struc-
ture) uniformly distributed over the volume is
Specific features of the rotating magnetic field
effect of shear flow of MRS are found from ex-
periment. Such a field causes an additional flow in j, kA/,n
the direction opposite to its rotation which ap-
pears to be due to the interaction of the particles
being rotated by the field and their surrounding
fluid with bounding rigid surfaces (with device
walls). Depending on the rotation direction of the
field, its strength and angular velocity. The im-
position of this flow on the main one allows
control of momentum transfer in the system over
a wide range and changing of the shear stress up
and down from the initial level (H = 0).
The specific features of MRS mechanics in a
rotating magnetic field are mainly caused by the
so-called rotational hysteresis. These are manifest
in the form of a resonance dependence of a torque u 50 H,kA/m
on the field strength and are explained by partial
Fig. 4. Effect of the microstructure of MRS on its magnetic
freezing-in of single-domain ferroparticles in a properties: 1, MRS oriented in a magnetic field; 2, not ori-
viscous medium [2]. ented.
 V.I. Kordonsky et al. / Magnetizable
given as KC = 3K&J(3 + K, - 3K,+). The values
of K, found by this formula well conform to the
experimental data.
The MRS susceptibility is very sensitive to
structural changes in the flow. It may be consid-
ered that these susceptibility changes are caused
by the ones in the aggregate sizes or by their
orientation in the field direction and are de-
termined by some relation of magnetic and hydro-
dynamic forces.
5. MRE model
The proposed theoretical approach to describ-
ing MRS is based on the statistical theory of
diluted suspensions which operates with concrete
physical characteristics of a microstructure [5,6].
The validity of the representation of real MRSs
with a concentration of $I < 0.1 in the form of
diluted suspensions is supported by experiments,
in which it is shown that the shear stress incre-
ment VT does not depend on 9, is peculiar to
suspensions of noninteracting aggregates or, in
other words, the characteristic viscosity (nH -
nHZO)/nH+ + does not depend on 9.
At the same time the aggregate size (structure
element) as a function of experimental conditions
points to a fundamental distinction from MRS
from suspensions usually considered in the theory
allowing for applied fields and consisting of par-
ticles having prescribed and fixed sizes.
A model is proposed in accordance with which
MRS is an ordered system of noninteracting el-
lipsoidal aggregates moving with a medium formed
by a dispersed particle field and kept by it from
rotation at the same angle to the flow direction.
Increasing the viscosity is caused by extra energy
expenses for medium flow past these structural
elements. The mechanical energy dissipation level
(effective viscosity) is controlled by changing the
MRS microstructure (form-parameter r, = a/b, a
is the major half-axis of the aggregate, b is the
minor axis and (Y is the orientation angle) at
varying field strength H, or +. Thus, the problem
is reduced to finding r, and cy as a function of
prescribed quantities: H,, +, K,, +, dispersing
medium viscosity q,,. After r, > 1, but 2a is much
structure-reversible media 111
less than the gap width we obtain the rheological
equation
6. Structuring kinetics
For unsteady processes in MRS, of importance
is a state, with which a structure is caused to
coincide with the changes in an applied magnetic
field.
An experimental study of the magnetic relaxa-
tion and analysis based on the nonequilibrium
thermodynamics methods have shown that an ag-
gregation rate is proportional K,pOH2/q0 and to
some coefficient which depends on the volume
concentration of ferroparticles [7].
7. Transfer process control
7.I. Thermal and mass transfer processes
The anisotropic nature of the effective MRS
thermal conductivity and its dependence on the
thermal conductivity of the structure elements [S]
are found from experiment. In the case of the
same direction of the heat flux and force field
lines, the thermal conductivity is substantially en-
hanced. In the case of perpendicular orientation
Xeff decreases. The largest increment of Xeff (up
to 70%) is obtained for the suspensions of electro-
lytic nickel powder. For other suspensions, it is
somewhat less (30-50X). The decrease in Xeff for
all the systems examined does not exceed 15-20%
of its initial value and depends slightly on the
concentration, type of ferrofillers, and field
strength. The effective thermal diffusivity aeff
varies similarly to Xeff, and the specific heat
capacity PC, practically does not change under
the action of a field.
Calculation of the effective MRS thermal con-
ductivity at a simple shear rate is made, similar to
that of the magnetization using the self-consistent
field method [4]. Numerical results have shown
that the MRS thermal conductivity is an effective
118 V.I. Kordonsky et al. / Magnetrrnble structure-reuerstble media

7.2. Flow

An experimental study has been made of the

effect of a nonuniform magnetic field on turbulent
MRS jets with a dispersed medium lyophilic to the
fluid, into which the mixing fluid jet is directed.
The field gradient is in the opposite direction to
the jet motion. Unlike the case when H = 0, the
flow visualization points to an ultimate jet length,
0 1 2 Ip.O/o to narrowing the zone, in which the jet is mixed
Fig. 5. Effect of the field strength and ferromagnetic con- with the environment, and to the secondary flow
centration on heat transfer of P-lo-based MRS: 1, i = 0.25 A;
being opposite to the main one. In this case, the
2, 0.5; 3,0.75; 4, 1.0.
jet length decreases with increasing field gradient.
Quantitative results are obtained by the electro-
magnitude and depends not only on the field chemical methods in carbonyl iron MRS jets (+ =
strength but also on the shear rate which, depend- 0.64 x lo-*) in water thickened with Na-CMC. A
ing on the situation, can change it by more than magnetic field causes a greater decrease of axial
30%. In the limiting case (re x==I), the formula velocity the smaller is the initial jet velocity. The
h.,,/h, = (1 + 2X,qa/3h,)/(l - x,&,/3h,) is ob- cross velocity profiles undergo substantial changes.
tained, and conforms well to experiment on rest- These narrow and become steeper. A strong flow
ing MRSs. Here h, is the thermal conductivity of instability is observed near the jet boundary, and
the medium and X, is the thermal conductivity of the jet moves in the opposite direction. The veloc-
the aggregate. ity pulsation level decreases substantially, and at
In experiments, sharp heat transfer enhance- the same time the spectrum moves down in
ment is revealed when a rotating magnetic field [l] frequency. An explanation is made of the mecha-
affects the shear MRS flow in the gap of the nism of this impact which is based on the dissipa-
rotational coaxial cylindrical device. A more than tion of jet energy on flow past particles which are
15-fold increase of the heat transfer coefficient LY>, decelerated by a field. The structuring factor is
is observed in the case of aqueous MRSs. Under also taken into account.
the action of an applied field, in the MRS layer An experimental study has been made of the
there appear two types of flow: microscopic vortex effect of a magnetic field on the turbulent flow of
due to aggregate rotation and macroscopic motion aqueous carbonyl iron MRS in a round copper
of the medium bulk. Just the first microconvective tube, assuming that with a magnetic field being
factor is of importance to heat transfer when a absent the particles do not affect the behaviour of
field is applied; (Y, as a function of concentration the motion of the fluid [9]. This occurred in the
has a pronounced extremum, fig. 5, related to case of small volume concentration (up to 1 vol%).
provision of free rotation of particles. Moreover, Experiments were conducted on a hydraulic stand,
OL,varies in proportion to the field rotation veloc- where measurements were made of the pipeline
ity. hydroresistance (pressure drop) as well as of the
Experiment shows that a nonuniform magnetic rate of heat transfer from a heated wall (with
field changes integral and local mass transfer rates respect to the temperature head). The tube axis
of a plate in the wall turbulent MRS jet oppositely was oriented across or along the force lines of a
directed to the field gradient. It is found that the constant uniform magnetic field. The field strength
mass transfer wake narrows, and its length di- was varied from 0 to 32 X 10'A/m; concentration
minishes, too. In this case, the local mass transfer 0 to 1%; mean flow velocity (Re = 8 X 103-2 X
rate increases along the jet and attains more than 104).
150% (as against H = 0) in a field with H dH/ A perpendicular field is characterized by a con-
dx = - 6.9 x 10 A/m3. siderably increasing hydroresistance and by heat
 V.I. Kordonsky et al. / Magnetizable
transfer enhancement. In this case, this effect in-
creases linearly with concentration. It increases
with field strength according to a law similar to
the quadratic one and decreases with growing Re
following the same law. All the experimental data
are generalized by a linear dependence of this
impact on the Alfven number, being a combina-
tion of constant physical quantities and varied
parameters and being a turbulent flow-to-particle
interaction energy ratio proceeding from a physi-
cal meaning. The largest increase in hydroresis-
tance and heat transfer was 15 and 9 times, re-
spectively. A longitudinal field exerts the opposite
influence, decreasing the hydroresistance and heat
transfer rate which are in non-monotonic depen-
dence on the Alven number.
8. Compositions with a non-magnetic dispersed
phase
Another type of fluid with magnetic field-con-
trolled microstructure consists of magnetorheo-
logical suspensions with an active medium (active
MRS). From experiment it is found that injection
of nonmagnetic noncolloid particles into a mag-
netic colloid fluid greatly enhances the increase of
viscous stresses in a magnetic field. This is a result
of forming a structure, in this case a nonmagnetic
one [lo].
A nonmagnetic particle placed into a magnetiz-
able medium distorts the uniform (on a particle
scale) distribution of magnetic field strength. At
the particle poles the field is attenuated and at the
particle equator it is amplified. Therefore, the
neighbouring nonmagnetic particles will be re-
pelled in the equatorial plane and attracted along
the polar axis, tending to be located in the field
with minimum H (minimum hydrostatic pressure).
Assume that a magnetic colloid is magnetized to
saturation. Thus, the interaction of nonmagnetic
particles suspended in a magnetic fluid is similar
to that of magnetic particles in a nonmagnetic
fluid although it is different in nature. A flowing
fluid in this case plays an active role.
Fig. 6 presents typical rheological characteris-
tics of MF (curve l), MRS (curve 2) and active
MRS (curve 3). Here AT/~,, is the relative stress
structure-reversible media 119
2
La
8
6
DL 1 2 3 4 PI&-:
Fig. 6. Rheological characteristics of MF, active MRS and
MRS.
increase in a field H = 30 kA/m. The saturation
magnetization of MF M, = 37.5 kA/m, and the
volume concentration of noncolloid nonmagnetic
particles in active MRS and that of magnetic
particles in MRS are the same (+ = 0.1). The
active MRS manifests a pronounced magnetorheo-
logical effect. However, it should be noted that as
for the relative stress increase, except for the re-
gion of minimum shear rates (about 50 s-), this
effect is most pronounced even in MRS. Practi-
cally, a complete absence of the initial shear stress
is the principal qualitative difference of active
MRS from MRS.
Possibly, a magnetosensitive structure-con-
trolled suspension may be developed using the
modem synthesized high-temperature supercon-
ducting materials. These substances refer to sec-
ond-kind superconductors. Considering that the
transition temperature T, into the superconduct-
ing state of some samples of superconductors at-
tains 125 K, hydrocarbons, e.g. propelin, may
serve as a disperse medium for such a suspension.
The particle size of a dispersed phase must greatly
exceed the penetration depth of a field into the
superconductor. Estimates show that the mini-
mum permissible particle size of a dispersed phase
of suspension must be no less than 2 pm. Note
that this fact excludes the possibility of providing
120 V.I. Kordonsky et al. / Magnetizable structure-reoersible medm

dynamic colloid fluids. Relying upon the theory of For suspensions of superconducting powders
ferromagnetic particle structuring, estimates are synthesized at present, the shear stress in a field of
made of structuring and magnetizing the suspen- H = 50 kA/m may attain 10 N/m.
sion of superconducting particles. In the supercon-
ducting state, the particles become diamagnetic
and disturb the uniform magnetic field, thus caus- 9. Conclusion
ing particle interaction accompanied by forming
the elongated aggregates along the field.
The theoretical and experimental works are the
Of interest is the difference between the be-
basis of developing new processes and devices
haviour of the magnetization of suspensions of
using magnetizable structure-reversible media.
ferromagnetic and superconducting particles dur-
First of all, this may be referred to electrohydro-
ing structuring. For a ferromagnetic particle ag-
automation, hydraulic drive, vibration isolation
gregate, the magnetic moment increases with in-
systems, processes of mechanical machining etc.
creasing formfactor r,. So, during structuring the
suspension magnetization increases monotoni-
cally. For suspensions of superconducting par-
ticles, the magnetization (against a field) will in- References
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