IJIRST International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology Volume 2 Issue 09 February 2016 ISSN (online): 2349-6010 A Study of Properties, Preparation and Testing of Magneto-Rheological (MR) Fluid Mr. Abhijit V. Sonawane Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Engg. Pune, India Mr. Chetan S. More Amrutvahini College of Engg. Sangamner, Pune, India Mr. Swapnil S. Bhaskar Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Engg. Pune, India Abstract Magneto rheological (MR) fluids have been investigated to be of much importance due to their magneto rheological dependant properties. Magneto Rheological is a branch of rheology that deals with the flow and deformation of the materials under an applied magnetic field. These types of materials change their rheological properties under the application of magnetic field applied and turn from liquid to solid in just few seconds. MR fluid is the colloidal suspension of micron sized, polarizable magnetic particles (iron metal particle) in the magnetically neutral carrier fluid (low viscosity paraffin oil / silicon oil) whose viscosity can be varied from liquid to semisolid with the help of magnetic field. Magneto rheological (MR) fluid technology has been proven for many industrial applications like shock absorbers, actuators, seat dampers, etc. This paper presents basic properties, preparation, testing and implementation of MR fluid in conventional damper. Keywords: Magneto Rheological (MR) fluid, Magneto Rheological (MR) Damper, Smart Materials, Controllable fluids Basics of MR Fluid: I. INTRODUCTION The discovery of Magneto Rheological (MR) fluid is attributed to Jacob Rabinow in 1940 s. Magneto rheological fluids are a class of smart material which can be simply referred as a controllable fluid. Nowadays they are stable and have many influencing property such as high yield stress and low viscosity. Because of this magneto rheological fluids are recently used in vehicle suspension system. Magneto rheological fluids are mixture of micron sized iron particles (ferromagnetic particle) and grease in appropriate carrier oil. MR fluids respond to a change in rheological properties on the application of external magnetic field. Rheology is branch of science that deals with the study of deformation and flow of matter such as magneto rheological fluids, blood, paint etc. under the impact of a stress. Magneto Rheological is a branch of rheology that deals with the flow and deformation of the materials under an applied magnetic field. These types of materials change their rheological properties under the application of magnetic field applied and turn from liquid to solid in just few seconds Property of MR Fluid: The typical properties of magneto rheological fluids are as shown in Table 1. Table - 1 Properties of MR fluid Property Range Density 3-4gm/cm 3 Initial viscosity 0.2 0.3(Pa.s) at 25 0 C Magnetic field strength 150 250 (KA/m) Maximum yield stress 50 100 (KPa) Particulate Material Iron (Carbonyl/ Electrolytic), Ferrite Particle Size 0.1-10 μm Working temperature -50 o C 150 0 C Supply voltage and current 12V and 0.1 2A Working of MR Fluid: The iron particles having magnetic properties (ferromagnetic particles) of micron size are freely suspended in the low viscosity paraffin oil. These particles are randomly suspended in oil in its normal condition that is before applying external magnetic field as shown in below figures: All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 82
Fig. 1(a): before applying magnetic field Fig. 1(b): Actual schematic of MR fluid before applying magnetic field At this state MR fluid act as a free flowing fluid that is it can easily travel from upper chamber to lower chamber in case of MR damper and vice versa form holes grooved on periphery of piston and there is no change in apparent viscosity of MR fluid. Figure 1(b) shows the actual schematic of MR fluid before applying magnetic field. When an external magnetic field is applied to fluid, the iron particles align themselves along the line parallel to the direction of magnetic field and form a chain like structure as shown in below figure: Fig. 2(a): after applying magnetic field Fig. 2(b): Actual schematic of MR fluid after applying magnetic field All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 83
Because of that there is large increase in apparent viscosity of MR fluid. At this stage MR fluid becomes semi-solid that is it restrict the travel of MR fluid due to excitation of iron particle due to magnetic field which in turn increases a viscosity of fluid and it gradually blocks the grooved holes on periphery of piston and resists the travel of fluid from lower chamber to upper chamber. This gave a desired damping force.\ Constituents of MR Fluid: II. PREPARATION OF MR FLUID As per the application of MR fluid, formulation will be depends. Carrier oil Magnetic particle Additives Low viscosity Electrolytic iron Grease Paraffin oil powder Arabic gum Silicon oil Iron alloy Water Nickel alloy For the preparation of 100ml MR fluid following Constituents are required with specified quantity as follows: Constituents Quantity Low viscosity paraffin oil 68ml Iron particle (50 microns) 112.32gm All-purpose grease (AP3 grease) 6.75gm As per quantity of MR fluid quantity of constituent change. For preparation of X ml of MR fluid, each quantity of constituents should be multiplied by factor (X/100), where X will be the quantity of MR fluid to be prepared. Preparation Procedure: For the preparation of MR fluid two accessories are required as mechanical stirrer and beaker with above. Following steps are required to be carried for preparation of MR fluid. 1) Take the low viscosity paraffin oil and all-purpose grease (AP3 grease) with correct quantity in a beaker. 2) Stir it with the help of mechanical stirrer for proper mixing. 3) Then wait for 2hrs so that grease gets completely soluble in low viscosity is paraffin oil. 4) After that add iron particles of 50 micron size in above mixture and again stir it with the help of mechanical stirrer for 15 to 20 min. for proper mixing. In the preparation of MR fluid AP3 grease is added into Paraffin oil in order to avoid settlement of iron particle. Following figures shows the prepared MR fluid: Experimental Setup of MR Fluid Testing: Fig. 3: Prepared MR fluid Basic requirements: For the testing of MR fluid following instruments are required. 1) Guassmeter and teslameter 2) Electromagnet 3) Electrical circuit (Step down transformer, Ammeter and Rheostat) Guassmeter and teslameter is a magnetometer that used to measure the strength of magnetic field measured in units of gauss and teals respectively. The guassmeter has a probe which is kept in a MR fluid to measure magnetic field intensity. The electromagnet is a device of electrical winding wounded on a core in which magnetic field is produced by applying external All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 84
electric current. This electromagnet is used for to magnetize the iron particle present in a MR fluid. The electrical circuit is required to vary a current of electromagnet. The step down transformer is used to convert the 230V AC supply into 12V DC supply. Following figure shows an experimental setup for testing the MR fluid. Fig. 4: Experimental setup Results of MR fluid: Following table shows the reading obtained while testing the MR fluid and respective graph. Table - 2 Value of Magnetic Field intensity in gauss for Current (A) Magnetic field intensity in gauss 0 0 0.2 7 0.4 12 0.6 15 0.8 18 1.0 23 1.2 27 1.4 32 1.6 37 1.8 42 Above table shows magnetic field intensity in gauss by varying the current. Below graph shows the relation between magnetic field intensity in gauss and current in ampere. Fig. 5: Graph 2 Magnetic field intensity vs. Current Validification of MR Fluid: Magnetic field is created due to moving charges in a winding. Each electron in a winding creates its own magnetic field. The amount of current in a winding is directly proportional to magnetic field intensity. The graph shows that as the current increases magnetic field intensity also increases. There is a linear proportion between current and magnetic field intensity. This graph follows the above statement so that the prepared MR fluid is used for applications. All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 85
III. CONCLUSION The experimental result shows good efficiency of prepared MR fluid in presence of external magnetic field. The MR fluid is tested on guassmeter which shows the result that as magnetic field is applied to MR fluid; it changes the physical state that is liquid state to semi-solid state. Guassmeter shows reading of magnetic field intensity by varying the current. It shows that as current increases magnetic field intensity also increases, and straight line graph is obtained, which validated the prepared MR fluid. REFERENCES [1] Sunil Sharma, Saraswati Rana and Ravindra Singh Rana, "Properties and Application of Commercial Magneto rheological Fluid- A Review", IJARED, Vol. 01, PP. 124-128, 2014 [2] M.A. Patil, S. Sapkale and S. Soni, "Theoretical and Experimental Studies on Magneto rheological fluid damper with DC Input", IAEME, Vol. 03, PP.610-619, 2012. [3] B.A. Ugle, H.M. Bajaj and G.S. Birdi, "Application of Magneto rheological (MR) Fluid Damper and its Social Impact", International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Vol.02, PP.41-45, 2014. [4] Bhau K. Kumbhar, Satyajit R. Patil, "A Study on Properties and Selection Criteria for Magneto rheological (MR) Fluid Components", IJCRGG, Vol.06, PP. 3303-3306, 2014. [5] Stalin S.S, "Preparations and Performance Analysis of MR Fluid in Dampers", IJATES, Vol. 02, PP. 20-29, 2014. All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 86