Masayuki Aoshima

Negative magneto-rheological effect of a dispersion composed of spindle-like hematite particles

We have experimentally investigated the negative magneto-rheological effect that is theoretically predicted to appear in a dispersion composed of spindle-like hematite (α-Fe2O3) particles. The spindle-like hematite particles were synthesized by aging a solution of FeCl3 and KH2PO4 for 72 h at 373 K. The particle size distribution was determined by digital image analysis from electronic microscope observation of the particles. In the present study we considered a glycerol–water-based dispersion in order to clarify the influence of the shear rate and the magnetic field strength on the negative magneto-rheological effect. Measurement of the viscosity was carried out using a rotational-type rheometer in an external magnetic field generated by Helmholtz coils. The main results obtained can be summarized as follows. The viscosity of a hematite/glycerol–water dispersion relative to that with no applied magnetic field decreases with increasing magnetic field strength: that is, we observed the negative viscosity effect that has previously been predicted from theoretical considerations. Moreover, the negative magneto-rheological effect is observed to decrease with increasing shear rate, which also agrees qualitatively with the theoretical prediction.

Two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of a colloidal dispersion composed of rod-like ferromagnetic particles in an applied magnetic field

We investigated the influence of an external magnetic field on microstructures in a colloidal dispersion composed of rod-like ferromagnetic particles using the cluster-moving Monte Carlo method. The internal microstructures obtained by simulations have been analysed in terms of the orientational distribution and pair correlation functions. The results obtained are summarized as follows. As the magnetic field increases, the particles align in the direction of the magnetic field. In the case of a relatively strong magnetic interaction between particles, chain-like clusters are formed along the magnetic field direction. However, the aspect ratio of the particles and the magnetic interaction between them do not affect their orientational distribution. Two types of structures are observed in the chain-like clusters—a straight linear structure and a step-like structure. The chain-like clusters become shorter when the area fraction of the particles decreases, and the number of step-like structures increases when the area fraction of the particles increases. The step-like structure formation can be explained by the dependence of the potential energy curves on the shape of the spherocylinder particles.

Influence of perpendicular external magnetic field on microstructures of monolayer composed of ferromagnetic particles: Analysis by means of quasi-two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation

We investigated the influences of the magnetic field strength and particle areal density on the microstructure of a quasi-two-dimensional monolayer composed of ferromagnetic particles by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. The magnetic field was applied along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the monolayer. Microstructures of the monolayer obtained in the simulations were analyzed in terms of radial distribution and orientational distribution functions. Formation of the microstructures is discussed from the perspective of particle-particle interaction energy and the perpendicular magnetic susceptibility of the monolayer was calculated from simulated magnetization curves. The obtained results are summarized as follows. For small areal density of particles, formation of chain-like structures is prevented by the repulsive magnetic interaction between particles due to orientations of the magnetic moments in the particles along the magnetic field direction. For intermediate areal density of particles, the chain-like structures remain even when a relatively strong magnetic field is applied, because contributions of the attractive magnetic interactions increase. For large areal density of particles, mixtures of chain-like and locally ordered structures appear due to the anisotropic attractive magnetic interactions in the absence of the magnetic field. However, when a sufficiently strong magnetic field is applied, the magnetic interactions between particles change to isotropic repulsive interactions, which results in the short-range repulsive steric interactions between particles becoming dominant with the appearance of hexagonal close packed structures.

3D Monte Carlo Simulations of Aggregate Structures in a Magnetic Colloidal Suspension Composed of Plate-Like Particles With Magnetic Moment Normal to the Particle Axis

We have investigated the internal aggregate structures of a colloidal suspension composed of magnetic plate-like particles with a magnetic moment normal to the particle axis by means of three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations. In concrete, we have attempted to clarify the influences of the magnetic field strength, magnetic interactions between particles, and volumetric fraction of particles, on particle aggregation phenomena. In order to discuss quantitatively the aggregate structures of particles, we have focused on the radial distribution and orientational pair correlation function. For no applied magnetic field cases, long column-like clusters are formed as magnetic particle-particle interactions increase. Characteristics of these clusters are that particles incline in a certain direction with their magnetic moments alternating in direction between the neighboring particles. For applied magnetic field cases, the magnetic moments of the particles incline in the magnetic field direction, so that the columnar clusters are not formed. The brick wall-like aggregates are formed as the influences of the magnetic field and magnetic particle-particle interactions become significantly dominant.Copyright

Orientational Distributions of a Ferromagnetic Spherocylinder Particle in a Simple Shear Flow

A ferrofluid is a suspension of ferromagnetic spherical particles in a base liquid (1), and is well known as a functional fluid which responds to an external magnetic field to give a large increase in the viscosity. Such a significant increase in the viscosity is due to the fact that chain-like clusters are formed owing to magnetostatic interactions between particles in an applied magnetic field. The microstructure formation offers a large resistance to a flow field that gives rise to a significant increase of the apparent viscosity (2).Copyright