Structure and dynamics of mangetorheological fluids confined in microfluidic devices

Microfluidic devices and magnetorheological (MR) fluids have been two areas of intense research for several years. Traditionally, these two fields have remained separated from one another by scale. MR fluids are best known for their use in large-scale applications such as seismic dampers for the foundations of buildings. Recently however, there has been strong interest in utilizing the micro-structure formed by self-assembled MR fluids as structural components in microfluidic devices. MR fluids are composed of micron-sized paramagnetic colloids suspended in a non-magnetic carrier fluid. When an external magnetic field is applied to the MR fluid it induces dipole moments in the paramagnetic colloids causing them to interact and self-assemble into solid-like structures. In the past few years, self-assembled MR fluids have found use as structural components in a variety of micro-scale applications since their use provides an attractive alternative to traditional lithography as a means to create micro-scale structures. The advantages of using MR fluids include the ability to easily and inexpensively create sub-micron structures as well as the ability to create "dynamic structures" that can be controlled with an external magnetic field.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Haghgooie, Ramin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Patrick S. Doyle.

• Chemical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37222

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37222