%0 journal article
%@ 1744-683X
%A Vasilescu, C.,Latikka, M.,Knudsen, K.D.,Haramus, V.M.,Socoliuc, V.,Turcu, R.,Tombacz, E.,Susan-Resiga, D.,Ras, R.H.A.,Vekas, L.

%D 2018
%J Soft Matter
%N 
%P 6648-6666 
%R doi:10.1039/C7SM02417G
%T High concentration aqueous magnetic fluids: structure, colloidal stability, magnetic and flow properties
%U https://doi.org/10.1039/C7SM02417G
 
%X This paper is an in-depth analysis devoted to two basic types of water based magnetic fluids (MFs), containing magnetite nanoparticles with electrostatic and with electro-steric stabilization, both obtained by chemical coprecipitation synthesis under atmospheric conditions. The two sets of magnetic fluid samples, one with citric acid (MF/CA) and the other with oleic acid (MF/OA) coated magnetic nanoparticles, respectively, achieved saturation magnetization values of 78.20 kA m−1 for the electrostatically and 48.73 kA m−1 for the electro-sterically stabilized aqueous ferrofluids which are among the highest reported to date. A comprehensive comparative analysis combining electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, dynamic light scattering and magneto-rheometry revealed similarities and essential differences on the microscopic and macroscopic level between the two kinds of water-based ferrofluids. While the saturation magnetization values are quite different, the hydrodynamic volume fractions of the highest concentration MF/CA and MF/OA samples are practically the same, due to the significantly different thicknesses of the particles’ coating layers. The results of volume fraction dependent structure analyses over a large concentration range by small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, correlated with magneto-rheological investigations for the electrostatically stabilized MFs, demonstrate formation of short chains of magnetic nanoparticles which are relatively stable against coagulation with increasing concentration, while for MFs with electro-steric stabilization, magnetic field and shear rate dependent loosely bound structures are observed. These particle structures in MF/OA samples manifest themselves already at low volume fraction values, which can be attributed mainly to magnetic interactions of larger size particles, besides non-magnetic interactions mediated by excess surfactant.