Magnetization of magnetite ferrofluid studied by using a magnetic balance

Abstract

Magnetic properties of magnetite ferrofluid are studied by measuring magnetic weights under different magnetic fields with a conventional electronic balance. Magnetite nanoparticles of 11 nm diameter are synthesized to make the ferrofluid. Magnetization calculated from the magnetic weight reveals the hysteresis and deviates from the Langevin function at high magnetic fields. Magnetic weight shifts instantaneously with magnetic field change by Neel and Brown mechanism. When high magnetic field is applied to the sample, slower change of magnetic weight is accompanied with the instantaneous shift via agglomeration of nanoparticles. The slow change of the magnetic weight shows the stretched exponential kinetics. The temporal change of the magnetic weight and the magnetization of the ferrofluid at high magnetic fields suggest that the superparamagnetic sample turns into superspin glass by strong magnetic interparticle interactions.