Magnetorheology from surface coverage of spin-coated colloidal films

Abstract

In magnetorheological fluids, the viscosity usually increases with the field and the non-Newtonian character of these complex fluids may vary significantly. We provide a new method to measure the relative viscosity of a superparamagnetic colloid, by applying a magnetic field during a spin-coating process, which involves evaporation of the solvent. We define the compact equivalent height to take into account the discrete nature of the suspension, and we compare experimental results under different conditions. We extend the model of Cregan et al. (J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2007, 314, 324) to turn it into an evaporation rate independent one. The generality of the resulting model facilitates measurement of the magnetic field dependent viscosity. We also discuss the morphologies of the final dried colloidal deposits and the possible mechanisms involved in their formation.