Objective A class of materials called smart materials is taking more and more importance due to the growing capabilities of computer control in our surroundings. These materials are usually composite structures whose properties can be controlled by an external parameter; it can be temperature for shape memory alloys or electric fields for piezoelectric transducers. In all these cases we are interested in controlling the properties of a material by some electronic device, which senses environmental changes and adapts its response accordingly.Magneto-rheological fluids (MRF's) represent an exciting family of smart materials that possess the unique ability to undergo rapid (within milliseconds) and nearly completely reversible changes in their strength (yield stress changes from 0 to lOOkPa) upon application of an external magnetic field. MRF's typically consist of fine particles of a magnetically soft material dispersed in an organic medium.Although a wide variety of applications of MRF's have been identified (semi-active shock absorbers, dampers, computer-aided polishing of precision...) they have not yet enjoyed wide spread commercialisation (only two, American, companies produce such composites: Lord-Corporation and Ferrofluidics). A major reason for this situation is that many MRF's do not satisfy the diverse and stringent requirements demanded in their applications: (i).- the stability of the fluids against sedimentation remains a central problem, and (ii)- their tribo-rheological proprieties are not well understood.The main objective of this project is to develop a magneto-tribo-rheometer and characterize new adaptative materials based on field-responsive nanoparticles. We would synthesize magnetically hard-high-permeability inverse spinel ferrites for MR applications using a modified sol-gel coprecipitation method in the presence of a magnetic field. Both magnetic and tribo-rheological properties would be studied in the presence Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologysedimentologyengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-4.1 - Marie Curie European Reintegration Grants (ERG) Call for proposal FP6-2002-MOBILITY-11 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERG - Marie Curie actions-European Re-integration Grants Coordinator UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA EU contribution No data Address CUESTA DEL HOSPICIO S/N GRANADA Spain See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
