Influence of the Particles Size and Size Distribution on the Magnetorheological Fluids Properties

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence on the magnetorheological (MR) fluids of two aspects which characterize magnetic powders: particles size and particles sizer distribution. We obtained Fe powders with micrometric particles of different sizes and narrow size distribution by sieving commercially available Fe powder by means of a sieve shaker. Also, three powders with particles having normal size distributions with the same mean size and different variances have been tailored using the sieved Fe powders. MR fluids based on the resulted magnetic powders were prepared and studied by means of a rheometer with a magnetorheological module. A correlation between the MR performance and particles size/particles size distribution was observed.