A method for precise control of movement of a motive phase on a lubricant-impregnated surface includes providing a lubricant-impregnated surface, introducing the motive phase onto the lubricant-impregnated surface, and exposing the droplets to an electric and/or magnetic field to induce controlled movement of the droplets on the surface. The lubricant-impregnated surface includes a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating lubricant therebetween or therewithin. The motive phase is immiscible or scarcely miscible with the impregnating lubricant.

Disclosed herein is a permanent magnet comprising: a plurality of aligned iron nitride nanoparticles wherein the iron nitride nanoparticles include α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domains; wherein a ratio of integrated intensities of an α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 (004) x-ray diffraction peak to an α″-α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 (202) x-ray diffraction peak for the aligned iron nitride nanoparticles is greater than at least 7%, wherein the diffraction vector is parallel to alignment direction, and wherein the iron nitride nanoparticles exhibit a squareness measured parallel to the alignment direction that is greater than a squareness measured perpendicular to the alignment direction.

A method and an apparatus for producing a radially aligned magnetorheological elastomer molded body containing a matrix resin and a magnetic filler are provided. The method includes the following: placing a permanent magnet 11 in at least one position selected from positions that are spaced from a metal mold 14a having a cavity 14b and located above and below the center of the metal mold 14a; providing a closed magnetic circuit that allows a magnetic flux 19a generated by the permanent magnet 11 to pass through the metal mold 14a from a side thereof, filling the cavity 14b with a composition containing the matrix resin and the magnetic filler; and molding the composition while the magnetic filler is radially aligned. With this configuration, the elastomer material is molded while the magnetic filler is radially aligned by using the permanent magnet.

A magneto-rheological elastomer that can achieve weight reduction, maintain mechanical properties at an excellent level, and improve magnetic flux density. A magneto-rheological elastomer includes an elastomer base material as a matrix and sendust flakes and spherical sendust powders. The magneto-rheological elastomer is made by mixing the sendust flakes and the spherical sendust powders in the elastomer base material.

A composite magnetic material includes a powder and a resin. The powder has a main component containing Fe or Fe and Co. An average minor axis length in primary particles of the powder is 100 nm or less. A point satisfying (X, Y)=(/A.sub.v (%), (A.sub.v-)) on an XY coordinate plane is present within a region (including a boundary) surrounded by three points (24.5, 6.7), (72.0, 1.2), and (24.5, 1.2), in which an average of aspect ratios in the primary particles of the powder is set to A.sub.v, and a standard deviation of the aspect ratios in the primary particles of the powder is set to .

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a covalently functionalized coated magnetic nanoparticle and to said particles and uses thereof. The preparation method includes forming a shell of a hydrophilic polymer coating layer on top of a magnetic metal core coated with a carbon coating. In the method a particle comprising a magnetic metal core coated with a carbon coating is provided. The surface of the particle is subjected to covalent functionalization by generating amino reactive groups via diazonium chemistry and subsequently an irreversible attachment of an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator is carried out on said surface. A hydrophilic polymer layer is formed) by a surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) reaction with a monomer comprising N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM).

A magneto-rheological elastomer composition (10) includes a matrix resin (12) and a magnetic powder (11). The magnetic powder (11) is contained in an amount of 30 to 70% by volume based on 100% by volume of the composition. The magneto-rheological elastomer composition (10) has an Asker C hardness of 5 to 60 as determined by the Standard SRIS0101 of the Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan. The average particle size of the magnetic powder is preferably 2 to 500 m, and the matrix resin is preferably an organopolysiloxane. The storage modulus of the magneto-rheological elastomer composition preferably changes by five times or more upon application of a magnetic force with a magnetic flux density of 200 mT. Thus, the present invention provides a magneto-rheological elastomer composition that greatly changes its storage modulus upon application of magnetism, a method for producing the same, and a vibration absorbing device including the same.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, -Fe and magnesium nickel.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, -Fe and magnesium nitride.

Disclosed herein is a permanent magnet comprising: a plurality of aligned iron nitride nanoparticles wherein the iron nitride nanoparticles include -Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domains; wherein a ratio of integrated intensities of an -Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 (004) x-ray diffraction peak to an --Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 (202) x-ray diffraction peak for the aligned iron nitride nanoparticles is greater than at least 7%, wherein the diffraction vector is parallel to alignment direction, and wherein the iron nitride nanoparticles exhibit a squareness measured parallel to the alignment direction that is greater than a squareness measured perpendicular to the alignment direction.