Research Group "Magnetic Fluids"

Research group of Magnetic Fluids of Laboratory of Heat and Mass Transfer specializes in research of magnetic fluids also called ferrofluids. Ferrofluids are stabilized colloidal dispersions of magnetic nanoparticles in various types of carrier fluid. On a macroscopic scale, ferrofluid characteristics are much like those of more common fluids, apart from exceptional superparamagnetic properties. An external magnetic field gives rise to significant forces of particle interaction, which enable altering the physical properties and hydrodynamic flow structure of ferrofluids. The principal research interests of the group are related to mass and heat transfer of ferrofluids and to manufacturing technology and properties of ferrofluids.  Main directions of research are:

• Physical and magnetization properties of polydisperse colloids.
• Transport properties of nanocolloids in the presence of magnetic field.
• Thermomagnetic and concentration magnetic convection.
• Thermophoresis and double diffusive phenomena, magnetic Soret effect.
• Thermosensitive ferrofluids for magnetoconvective cooling.

Head of research group: Dr. habil. phys. Elmars Blums, e-mail: eblums@tesla.sal.lv