2005/09/01 by C. Scherer, A. M. Figueiredo Neto · 1 citation
Engineering · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · #Characterization and Applications of Magnetic Nanoparticles #Field-Flow Fractionation Techniques #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Ferrofluid #Physics #Magnetic nanoparticles #Colloid #Condensed matter physics #Magnetorheological fluid #Nanotechnology #Particle (ecology) #Nuclear magnetic resonance #Nanoparticle #Magnetic field #Chemical physics #Materials science #Chemistry #Physical chemistry
paper · pdf · doi:10.1590/s0103-97332005000400018
openalex publication_date 2005/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Magnetic fluids may be classified as ferrofluids (FF), which are colloidal suspensions of very fine (~ 10 nm) magnetic particles, and magnetorheological fluids, which are suspensions of larger, usually non-stable, magnetic particles. We review the general classification and the main properties of FF, some theoretical models and a few applications. We consider the stability of a FF in terms of various forces and torques on the magnetic particles. We discuss thermodiffusion, which is an important phenomenon in FF, and which gives rise to the Soret effect. We also consider the rotational dynamics of the magnetic moments of the particles. A large portion of this review is dedicated to applications of FF, including a few of the many technological applications. Among the uses of a FF in the study of materials, we have selected the doping of liquid crystals. Among the very promising uses in Medicine, we discuss drug targeting, hyperthermia, cell separation, and contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. We also make some comments on directions for future research on the properties of ferrofluids.