volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

Micrometer and sub-micrometer sized non-magnetic particles were manipulated by an external strong magnetic field (e.g. 10 Tesla) with a high gradient. During the strong magnetic field effects, segregation of the non-magnetic particles was observed which could not be realised only with gravitational field. Numerical calculations were subsequently carried out to understand the effects on the insulating particles in a conductive liquid matrix. The migration of micrometer sized particles is obviously enhanced by the magnetic field gradient. Combining the experimental results and theoretical analysis, particle-particle magnetic interaction was found to influence the overall segregation of the particles as well. Magnetised by the strong magnetic field, magnetic interaction between non-magnetic particles becomes dominant and a self-assembly behavior can be demonstrated. Various factors such as the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction and chain-chain interaction, are governing the particles assembly. According to calculations, magnetic field should be strong enough, at least 7 T in order to obtain the assembly morphologies in the present case.

1. Asai, S., K. Sassa, and M. Tahashi, "Crystal orientation of non-magnetic materials by imposition of a high magnetic field," Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, Vol. 4, 455-460, 2003.
doi:10.1016/j.stam.2003.07.001 Google Scholar

2. Motokawa, M., "Physics in high magnetic fields," Rep. Prog. Phys., Vol. 67, 1995-2052, 2004.
doi:10.1088/0034-4885/67/11/R02 Google Scholar

3. Hangarter, C. M., Y. Rheem, B. Yoo, E. Yang, and N. V. Myung, "Hierarchical magnetic assembly of nanowires," Nanotechnology, Vol. 18, 205305, 2007.
doi:10.1088/0957-4484/18/20/205305 Google Scholar

4. Ren, Z., X. Li, Y. Sun, Y. Gao, K. Deng, and Y. Zhong, "Influence of high magnetic field on peritectic transformation during solidification of Bi-Mn alloy," Calphad, Vol. 30, 277-285, 2006.
doi:10.1016/j.calphad.2006.03.004 Google Scholar

5. Reitz, J. R. and F. J. Milford, Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1962.

6. Larachi, F. and M. C. Munteanu, "Magnetic emulation of microgravity for earth-bound multiphase catalytic reactor studies potentialities and limitations," AIChE J., Vol. 55, 1200-1216, 2009.
doi:10.1002/aic.11752 Google Scholar

7. Sun, Z., L. Zhang, M. Guo, J. Vleugels, O. van der Biest, and B. Blanpain, "Non-magnetic anisotropic-materials preparation by a strong magnetic field during the solidification of a hypereutectic Al-Cu alloy," EPL, Vol. 89, 64002, 2010.
doi:10.1209/0295-5075/89/64002 Google Scholar

8. Takayama, T., Y. Ikezoe, H. Uetake, N. Hirota, and K. Kitazawa, "Self-organization of nonmagnetic spheres by magnetic field," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 86, 234103-234103, 2005.
doi:10.1063/1.1947371 Google Scholar

9. Berry, M. V. and A. K. Geim, "Of flying frogs and levitrons," Eur. J. Phys., Vol. 18, 307-313, 1997.
doi:10.1088/0143-0807/18/4/012 Google Scholar

10. Crangle, J., The Magnetic Properties of Solids, Edwad Arnold Limited, 1977.

11. Bishop, K. J. M., C. E. Wilmer, S. Soh, and B. A. Grzybowski, "Nanoscale forces and their uses in self-assembly," Small, Vol. 5, 1600-1630, 2009.
doi:10.1002/smll.200900358 Google Scholar

12. Hill, R. J. A., V. L. Sedman, S. Allen, P. Williams, M. Paoli, L. Adler-Abramovich, E. Gazit, L. Eaves, and S. J. B. Tendler, "Alignment of aromatic peptide tubes in strong magnetic fields," Advanced Materials, Vol. 19, 4474-4479, 2007.
doi:10.1002/adma.200700590 Google Scholar

13. Boamfa, M. I., S. V. Lazarenko, E. C. M. Vermolen, A. Kirilyuk, and T. Rasing, "Magnetic field alignment of liquid crystals for fast display applications," Advanced Materials, Vol. 17, 610-614, 2005.
doi:10.1002/adma.200400954 Google Scholar

14. Garmestani, H., M. S. Al-Haik, K. Dahmen, R. Tannenbaum, D. Li, S. S. Sablin, and M. Y. Hussaini, "Polymer-mediated alignment of carbon nanotubes under high magnetic fields," Advanced Materials, Vol. 15, 1918-1921, 2003.
doi:10.1002/adma.200304932 Google Scholar

15. Yamaguchi, M. and Y. Tanimoto, Magneto-science (Magnetic Field Effects on Materials: Fundamentals and Applications), Springer-Verlag, 2006.

16. Sun, Z., M. Guo, F. Verhaeghe, J. Vleugels, O. van der Biest, and B. Blanpain, "Magnetic interaction between two non-magnetic particles migrating in a conductive fluid induced by a strong magnetic field-an analytical approach," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 103, 1-16, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIER10022607 Google Scholar

17. Sun, Z., T. Kokalj, M. Guo, F. Verhaeghe, O. van der Biest, B. Blanpain, and K. van Reusel, "Effect of the strong magnetic field on the magnetic interaction between two non-magnetic particles migrating in a conductive fluid," EPL, Vol. 85, 14002, 2009.
doi:10.1209/0295-5075/85/14002 Google Scholar

18. Chester, W., "The effect of a magnetic field on stokes flow in a conducting fluid," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 3, 304-308, 1957.
doi:10.1017/S0022112057000671 Google Scholar

19. Sun, Z., M. Guo, J. Vleugels, O. van der Biest, and B. Blanpain, "Numerical simulations of the `strong magnetic field effects' on micrometer sized insulating (inert) particle(s) moving in a conductive fluid," Physical Review E, submitted, 2010. Google Scholar

20. Maki, S., M. Ataka, T. Tagawa, and H. Ozoe, "Natural convection of a paramagnetic liquid controlled by magnetization force," AIChE J., Vol. 51, 1096-1103, 2005.
doi:10.1002/aic.10460 Google Scholar

21. Sun, Z., M. Guo, J. Vleugels, O. van der Biest, and B. Blanpain, "Numerical calculations on inclusion removal from liquid metals under strong magnetic fields," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 98, 359-373, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIER09100501 Google Scholar

22. Weast, R. C., M. J. Astle, and W. H. Beyer, CRC handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press, Inc., 1983--1984.

23. Sun, C., H. Geng, N. Zhang, X. Teng, and L. Ji, "Viscous feature of Sb-Bi alloy under magnetic field," Materials Letters, Vol. 62, 73-76, 2008.
doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2007.04.070 Google Scholar

24. Ghauri, S. and M. Ansari, "Increase of water viscosity under the influence of magnetic field," Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 100, 066101-066102, 2006.
doi:10.1063/1.2347702 Google Scholar

25. Yasuda, H., I. Ohnaka, O. Kawakami, K. Ueno, and K. Kishio, "Effect of magnetic field on solidification in Cu-Pb monotectic alloys," ISIJ Inter., Vol. 43, 942-949, 2003.
doi:10.2355/isijinternational.43.942 Google Scholar

26. Davidson, P. A., An introduction to Magnetohydrodynamics, Cambridge University Press, 2001.
doi:10.1017/CBO9780511626333

27. Butter, K., P. Bomans, P. M. Frederik, G. J. Vroege, and A. P. Philipse, "Direct observation of dipolar chains in iron ferrofluids by cryogenic electron microscopy," Nat. Mater., Vol. 2, 88-91, 2003.
doi:10.1038/nmat811 Google Scholar

28. Fang, W., Z. He, X. Xu, Z. Mao, and H. Shen, "Magnetic-field-induced chain-like assembly structures of Fe3O4 nanoparticles," EPL, Vol. 77, 68004, 2007.
doi:10.1209/0295-5075/77/68004 Google Scholar

Dr. Zhi Sun

Dr. Muxing Guo

Dr. Jef Vleugels

Dr. Omer Van der Biest

Dr. Bart Blanpain