Fabrication and characterization of graphene oxide (GO)-modified micro-nano composite magnetic microspheres

Addressing the contradiction between the magneto-rheological properties and dispersion stability of MRFs poses a significant challenge in the preparation process. This paper proposes a micro-nano composite material design scheme using graphene oxide as a grafting agent to encapsulate nanoscale magnetite (Fe3O4) particles onto the surface of carbonyl iron powders. The prepared micro-nano composite magnetic microspheres achieve a reduction in density for enhanced stability while ensuring no compromise in magnetic performance. The effectiveness of the preparation process is ensured through the analysis of the microscopic morphology, crystal structure, and elemental characteristics of all process products using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). To obtain MRFs more suitable for magneto-rheological damper applications, this study synthesized micro-nano composite MRFs with different base liquids and varying volume fractions. The stability and magneto-rheological properties of each sample were analyzed through visual techniques and rheological testing platforms. The results indicated that micro-nano composite MRFs based on 40% to 50% silicone oil exhibit superior stability in various aspects, including sedimentation stability, redispersion stability, and temperature stability. Additionally, the micro-nano composite MRFs demonstrated significantly enhanced magnetic performance compared to pure micrometer-sized, pure nanometer-sized, and micro-nano hybrid MRFs.