Manipulation of ferrofluid droplets on an open planar surface

Abstract

In this project, the characteristics of ferrofluid droplets on open planar surface will be studied. By means of a permanent magnet, the author will try to manipulate the movement of ferrofluid droplets and also to investigate on the factors affecting the movements of the ferrofluid droplets.

A hydrophobic glass slide was specially fabricated for this project in order for the author to observe the characteristics of ferrofluid droplets on hydrophobic surfaces as the behavior of ferrofluid droplets on normal hydrophilic glass surfaces is not interesting.

Prior to the manipulation of the ferrofluid droplets, experiments were carried out to study the effects that magnets have on stationary ferrofluid droplets. This is to help the author to model how the ferrofluid droplets will behave under the influence of the permanent magnet. After the stationary ferrofluid droplets experiment were carried out and a suitable model has been found for the manipulation of the ferrofluid droplet, the author proceeds to carrying out the manipulation of ferrofluid droplets by using permanent magnets of different strengths.

Video clips of the movements of the ferrofluid droplets under influence of permanent magnet were recorded and this video clips were analyzed using a MatLab program. The MatLab program will in turn give the position, velocity, advancing and receding contact angles of the ferrofluid droplets against time.