Nonconventional Technologies Review – no . 3 / 2008 29 MAGNETIC FLUIDS AND THEIR TECHNICAL AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Magnetic fluids are stable colloidal systems of fine single-domain magnetic particles (Fe3O4 or γFe2O3) that are suspended in liquid carrier such as water, mineral oil, damping oil, paraffin, kerosene and so on. The typical size of the magnetic particles is at about 10nm in diameter with magnetic moment of 10μB. The properties of magnetic fluids are well controlled by external magnetic field. In this review we want to discuss briefly history of magnetic fluids, their basic properties, technical applications such as sealing, floatation, loudspeaker, inclinometer, power transformer and biomedical applications such as magnetic drug targeting, magnetic resonance imaging, biomagnetic separation and hypethermia. The main results of the technical and biomedical applications research in our Institute will be presented.