The enhanced magnetorheological performance of carbonyl iron suspensions using magnetic Fe3O4/ZHS hybrid composite sheets

Two-dimensional magnetic Fe3O4/ZHS hybrid composite sheets were prepared via a two-step microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis. The successful incorporation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles synthesized in the first step into a zinc hydroxysulfate (ZHS) sheet-like structure formed during the second synthesis step was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The obtained magnetic Fe3O4/ZHS hybrid composite particles show a hexagonal and sheet-like morphology. The addition of these sheet-like hybrid composite particles into magnetorheological carbonyl iron-based suspensions results in a significant increase in MR performance. Moreover, this addition considerably contributes to the redispersibility enhancement of prepared suspensions in comparison to those consisting only of bare carbonyl iron particles.