P. Ilg: Cooperative behaviour and dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles in polymer solutions
Description
The structure, dynamics and the resulting transport properties of magnetic nanoparticles in viscoelastic media determine to a large extend the magnetorheological behavior of magnetic hybrid materials.
The main goal of this project ist to investigate systematically the influence of viscoelasticity of the host medium on the transport properties of magnetic nanoparticles in order to better interpret and predict the experimental observations. In order to accomplish this goal, computer simulations of detailed model systems will be performed, where the dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles in a polymer solution is investigated. The viscoelasticity of the host medium can be controlled by the concentration of the polymer solution: starting from the ultra dilute regime of ferrofluids up to the concentrated regime of elastomers. The results of the computer simulations concerning micro- and macrorheological properties in the presence or absence of an external magnetic field can directly be compared with the corresponding experiments. In addition, the simulations provide the full structural information that can be compared to the results of tomographic investigations.
The simulationen described above are also helpful as first steps for the investigation of magnetic gels where the polymer chains are crosslinked, as well as for magnetic nanoparticles in biological environment, where semi-flexible biopolymers are omnipresent.
Schematic of magnetic nanoparticles immersed in polymer solutions of increasing concentration (from top to bottom).
Project Manager
Dr. Patrick Ilg, University of Reading
Staff
Apostolos E. A. S. Evangelopoulos, University of Reading
Grant period
2013 -
Publications
Contact
University of Reading
Department of Mathematics & Statitics
Reading
Internet
http://www.polyphys.mat.ethz.ch/people/senior_researchers/pilg