Magnetorheological Fluids: A Unique Challenge for Lubrication and Tribology Specialists

摘要

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are suspensions of magnetically polarizable particles, such as iron, in a carrier fluid. MR fluids display a dramatically increased resistance to flow upon application of a magnetic field, a property that has led to a wide range of 'smart' commercial devices to provide semi-active control in automotive and industrial applications. There are presently more than 500,000 MR devices in use worldwide, largely in automotive applications, and this number is expected to rise into the millions as more automotive platforms adopt MR fluid shock absorbers, fan clutch systems, and other vibrationcontrol technologies. This talk will describe MR fluid composition and the properties that define a good MR fluid: satisfactory settling behavior, large control ratios, and high durability. Understanding and controlling the wear mechanisms of the micron-sized magnetic particles in the MR fluid present fascinating challenges to lubrication engineers and tribologists.