Low-Temperature Magnetorheological Fluid With Anti-Agglomeration Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional magnetorheological fluids experience significant viscosity increases and solidification below −30°C, leading to prolonged magnetic field switching response times and fluctuating damping device performance due to high viscosity carrier liquids and particle chain dynamics issues, with existing solutions failing to maintain stability below −40°C.

Innovation Solution

A low-temperature-resistant magnetorheological fluid composed of magnetic particles with a SiO2 aerogel coating and fluorine-containing silane grafting, combined with a low-viscosity base carrier liquid and dispersants, enhances fluidity and stability by preventing particle agglomeration and ice crystal adsorption, ensuring rapid magnetic response and high shear yield stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional mineral oil or silicone oil is used as carrier liquid, then the magnetorheological fluid shows good magnetorheological properties at room temperature, but the viscosity increases sharply or solidifies below −30°C, resulting in prolonged magnetic field switching response time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow-temperature resistanceVSAvoidmagnetic field switching response time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the base carrier liquid from conventional single-component oils to a multi-component synthetic system (polyol ester, silicone oil, polyalphaolefin) with optimized ratios. This parameter change enables the fluid to maintain low viscosity and fluidity at −40°C while preserving magnetorheological properties, thereby reducing magnetic field switching response time in low-temperature environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite base carrier liquid system by combining polyol ester, silicone oil, and polyalphaolefin in specific proportions. This composite material approach leverages the complementary advantages of each component: polyol ester provides low-temperature fluidity, silicone oil contributes to magnetorheological performance, and polyalphaolefin enhances stability. The composite system resolves the contradiction between low-temperature resistance and response time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the viscosity of carrier liquid is increased to improve low-temperature stability, then the fluidity at low temperature is improved, but the dynamic reorganization of particle chain is hindered and magnetic field switching response time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow-temperature stabilityVSAvoidparticle chain reorganization speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the viscosity parameter of the base carrier liquid by selecting a multi-component synthetic oil system with controlled viscosity range (10-50 mm²/s at 25°C). This parameter optimization ensures the carrier liquid maintains appropriate viscosity at low temperatures for stability while remaining low enough to allow rapid particle chain reorganization under magnetic field, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and reorganization speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If magnetic particles are used to provide magnetorheological effect, then the shear yield stress is increased, but particle agglomeration occurs and settlement resistance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshear yield stressVSAvoidsettlement resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces surface-modified magnetic particles with silane coupling agents as an intermediary between the magnetic particles and the base carrier liquid. This intermediary treatment improves particle dispersion by reducing particle-particle interactions that cause agglomeration, while maintaining the magnetic properties necessary for shear yield stress. The modified particles exhibit better settlement resistance compared to unmodified particles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of magnetic particles in the composite magnetorheological fluid to achieve the desired shear yield stress while preventing excessive agglomeration. By carefully controlling the particle concentration and combining it with surface modification and optimized carrier liquid viscosity, the patent maintains both high force output and good settlement resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The fluid maintains low viscosity (≤300 mPa·s) at −40°C, exhibits high settlement resistance (≤10% in 72 hours) and strong magnetorheological effect (shear stress ≥75 kPa at 800 mT), addressing the stability and performance challenges in low-temperature environments.

Implementation Method 1

the core-shell structure of the modified magnetic particles (SiO2 aerogel coating layer+fluorine-containing grafting layer) reduces particle agglomeration through physical adsorption and chemical hydrophobicity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical adsorption: Physisorption

Implementation Method 2

the SiO2 aerogel buffers thermal stress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stress buffering: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

the core-shell structure of the modified magnetic particles (SiO2 aerogel coating layer+fluorine-containing grafting layer) reduces particle agglomeration through physical adsorption and chemical hydrophobicity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 4

Its rheological properties can be rapidly and reversibly regulated by an external magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetorheological effect: Magnetorheological Fluid

Data Source

PatentUS20260081057A1Low-temperature-resistant magnetorheological fluid and preparation method thereof
Publication Date: 2026.03.19 CHONGQING CICHENG TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

This application relates to the technical field of intelligent materials, in particular to a low-temperature-resistant magnetorheological fluid and a preparation method thereof. The method includes surface treatment of magnetic particles in a magnetorheological fluid This application has the effect of improving the low-temperature resistance of the magnetorheological fluid.