A model for colloidal suspension under magnetohydrodynamic conditions

Abstract: We present a comprehensive model to account for the behavior of suspended nanoparticles under magnetohydrodynamic conditions. The Lorentz force not only drags nanoparticle flocs toward the walls reducing the distance between flocs resulting a more negative total pair interaction potential energy, but also produces extra magnetic-induced stresses inside a floc leading to a change of pair interaction distance thus giving rise to a less negative total potential energy. The model explains quite well the recent experimental results showing that magnetic field assists aggregation in laminar or weak turbulent flows, but favors floc disruption in turbulent regime.