Quasi-2D Monte Carlo simulations of the regime change in the aggregates of magnetic cubic particles on a material surface

ABSTRACT

We have investigated the aggregate structure of a suspension composed of magnetic particles with a cubic geometry by means of Monte Carlo simulations. From the viewpoint of application to the technology of surface modification, we have considered a quasi-two-dimensional suspension in thermodynamic equilibrium. As the magnetic interaction strength is increased, the effects of the thermal energy are reduced and the particles tend to aggregate together. These aggregates of cubic particles are not chain-like, but are designated as closely packed clusters. An applied magnetic field tends to enhance the formation of clusters along the field direction but does not significantly regularise the internal structure of the cluster. This is mainly due to the preference of a face-to-face contact configuration for the alignment of particles with cubic geometry. The regime of the internal structure of aggregates has a significant effect on the characteristics of the alignment of the magnetic moments with regard to the external magnetic field direction. Our simulations indicate that larger closely packed clusters are formed with increasing volumetric fraction, whereas the internal structure of the closely packed clusters is not found to be significantly influenced by the change in the volumetric fraction.

KEYWORDS:

• Magnetic colloidal suspension
• aggregate regime
• cubic particle
• internal structure
• closely packed cluster
• radial distribution function
• order parameter
• hematite particle

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.