Influence of temperature on the load capacity of planar ferrofluid bearings

A dribble of ferrofluids falls on a permanent magnet, inducing a ferrofluid buoyant force to form a liquid-soft bearing. Compared to conventional solid bearings used in the low frequency vibration shock absorbers and energy harvesters, these ferrofluid bearings exhibit a lower friction coefficient but pronounced temperature sensitivity. However, the influence of temperature on the load capacity remains insufficiently studied. Here, we investigate the load capacity variations with gap distance under different temperatures and standing times, analyzing hysteresis behavior under these conditions. Additionally, we examine the effect of alternating temperature conditions on the load capacity. We found that the temperature-induced aggregation of magnetic particles in high-gradient magnetic fields will enhance the load capacity at a small gap and weaken it at a large gap. This study clarifies the temperature range and performance of ferrofluid bearings for application.