Fabrication of magnetite nanoparticle-embedded polystyrene composites and their additive role on the dynamic properties of carbonyl iron-based magneto-rheological fluids

Magnetic Fe ₃ O ₄ @polystyrene (PS) nanoscale composite particles were fabricated using a unique Shirasu porous-glass membrane technique and used as additives to a magnetorheological (MR) suspension with magnetic carbonyl-iron (CI) particles. The morphology of the fabricated Fe ₃ O ₄ @PS composites was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The effects of the Fe ₃ O ₄ @PS composite particle additive on its MR behavior was examined using a rotation rheometer under an applied magnetic field. The results revealed improved MR behavior, such as higher storage and loss moduli, and elastic yield stress compared to those of the pure CI-based MR suspension under an external magnetic field.