Synthesis, characterization and studies on magneto-viscous properties of magnetite dispersed water based nanofluids

Magnetic nanofluids, commonly known as ferrofluids, containing surfactant coated magnetite nanoparticles (having mean size ∼11 nm) uniformly dispersed in water are synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. The rheological properties of magnetic nanofluid at different concentrations of nanoparticle loading have been investigated by varying different parameters including the magnetic field strength. Shear thinning is observed in the non-Newtonian magnetic nanofluids under the application of magnetic field. The observed increase in yield stress (calculated by fitting the Herschel and Bulkley model) with the applied magnetic field and concentration of dispersed nanoparticles confirm the formation of large aggregates that restrict or prohibit the flow characteristics of the otherwise Newtonian magnetic nanofluid. The hysteresis observed during the application and withdrawal of magnetic field suggests that the chain or column like structures fail to relax within the allowed measurement time interval.