ABSTRACT

This research work show cases the potentials of Itakpe Iron concentrate for Magneto-rhelogical abilities. The concentrate was first ball milled to size reduce it then subjected to low magnetic strength from magnetic bits in-situ the magnetic fluid.

It was determined that temperature affected the fluid inversely, as temperature increased at the shear rates from the viscometer and Newtonian viscosity calculated reduced, giving a negative relationship between temperature and Newtonian viscosity as loading remained constant. The magneto viscous property of the fluid was also checked as a magnetic field of different strength was then introduced and the viscosities of the concentration at constant loadings were measured, in this case gave a linear relationship (i.e increase in magnetic strength led to an increase in viscosity of the ferrofluid). Temperature was varied at 27oC room temperature to, 30oC, 40oC, 50oC, 60oC and 70oC with constant loadings of 10%, 15% and 20% for three different runs using from one to two magnetic bits to increase the magnetic strength. As shown, this work agrees with what was reported in the literature. As temperature increases, viscosity reduces even for magnetic fluids. These positive signs of magneto-rheology under low magnetic influence puts Itakpe Iron concentrate a candidate material for magnetic fluid potential and application in automobile shock absorbers, breaks etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTIFICATION III

DEDICATION IV

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT V

ABSTRACT VI

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0  INTRODUCTION 1

1.1    PROBLEM STATEMENT 2

1.2     AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2

1.3     JUSTIFICATION 3

1.4     SCOPE 3

2.0 LITERATURE SURVEY 4

2.1  BRIEF HISTORY OF MAGNETIC FLUIDS 4

2.2 DESCRIPTIONS OF FERROFLUIDS 5

2.2.1 MAGNETIZATION 6

2.2.2      MAGNETIC RELAXATION 7

2.3          TRANSPORT PROPERTIES 9

2.3.1     VISCOSITY 10

2.3.2          THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY 15

2.4        OTHER SMART FLUIDS 16

2.4.1     MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS 16

2.4.1.1          BASE FLUID 17

2.4.1.2            METAL PARTICLES 18

2.4.1.3     THE ADDITIVES 18

2.4.1.4       DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FERRO FLUID AND MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUID 19

2.4.2   ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUID 20

2.4.3   COMPARISON OF THREE SMART FLUIDS 21

2.6 PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL PRINCIPLE OF FERROFLUIDS 22

2.7 MATHEMATICAL FORMULAS OF MAGNETISM STUDY 25

2.7.1 MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY 25

2.7.2 AMPERE’S LAW 25

2.7.3   FARADAYS LAW 26

2.7.4   BIOT-SAVART LAW 26

2.7.5   ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY 27

2.7.6   ELECTRIC CURRENT DENSITY 27

2.8     SURFACTANT 28

2.8.1   CLASSIFICATION OF SURFACTANT 29

2.8.2 SURFACTANTS EFFECT ON THE MAGNETIC FLUID 29

2.8.3   RHEOLOGY 29

2.8.4   BROWNIAN MOTION 29

2.8.5   VISCOSITY 30

2.8.5.1   NEWTONIAN FLUID 30

2.8.5.2   NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID 31

2.9    YIELD STRESS 32

2.10   APPLICATIONS OF FERROFLUIDS 33

2.10.1    FERROHYDRODYNAMIC DAMPER 33

2.10.2      FERROHYDRODYNAMIC SEALING. 34

2.10.3       SPEAKERS WITH FERROFLUID 35

2.10.4     ELECTRICAL MACHINES WITH FERROFLUIDS 36

2.10.4    MAGNETIC DRUG TARGETING. 36

2.10.5     HYPERTHERMIA. 37

2.10.6      CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING 37

2.10.7    MAGNETIC SEPARATION OF CELLS 38

2.10.8       PROSPECTIVE FOR NEAR FUTURE RESEARCH ON FERROFLUIDS 39

2.11   FUTURE OF FERROFLUIDS 39

CHAPTER THREE 41

3.0 INSTRUMENTATION AND MATERIAL 41

3.1   MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED 41

CHAPTER FOUR 43

4.0   PROCEDURE 43

4.1   BALL-MILLING THE IRON ORE CONCENTRATES 43

4.2   SEM ANALYSIS 43

4.3   EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 44

CHAPTER FIVE 46

5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 46

5.1 RESULTS 46

5.1    SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (SEM) ANALYSIS 49

5.2  RESULTS DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 51

CHAPTER SIX 53

6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 53

6.2 RECOMMENDATION 53

CHAPTER SEVEN 55

7.0   References 55

APPENDIX 58