Magnetic actuation of nanofluids with ferromagnetic particles

Abstract

Electromagnetically actuated microflows are generated by using ferromagnetic nanofluids containing Fe2O3 based nanoparticles. Because of their magnetic properties these nanoparticles are able to response to a magnetic field imposed along a microchannel so that a microflow could be driven. Nanofluid samples were located inside a minichannel and were directed with a magnetic field, which was induced by a solenoid wrapped around the minichannel, to drive the flow inside the minichannel, where its flow rate was also recorded. The flow rate was measured as a function of the imposed magnetic field. The corresponding pressure drop to deliver the same flow rate with an ordinary pump along the same minichannel was estimated so that the potential of this system for acting as a micropump in microfluidic applications was revealed.