Limitations
Although smart fluids are rightly seen as having many potential applications, they are limited in commercial feasibility for the following reasons:
- High density, due to presence of iron, makes them heavy. However, operating volumes are small, so while this is a problem, it is not insurmountable.
- High-quality fluids are expensive.
- Fluids are subject to thickening after prolonged use and need replacing.
- Settling of ferro-particles can be a problem for some applications.
Commercial applications do exist, as mentioned, but will continue to be few until these problems (particularly cost) are overcome.
Read more about this topic: Magnetorheological Fluid
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