In this study, micron-sized flake shaped carbonyl iron (CI) water-based MR fluids were prepared with adding laponite and oleic acid as an additive and surfactant, respectively. The MR suspensions are comprised of the fixed CI particles and water weight %, while weight % of laponite and oleic acid changes from 1 to 3 wt% and 0.5 to 1.5 wt%, respectively. The remarkable enhancement in magnetorheological properties was obtained with improved sedimentation stability for CI/water MR suspensions with the addition of laponite and oleic acid. It was found that at the lowest magnetic field strength, the higher laponite concentration is effective, while at the highest magnetic field strength, the smaller concentration was effective. It was because of the combined effect of the field-induced CI chains and the laponite clay gel network. Its storage moduli showed a stable plateau area for whole angular frequencies, suggesting distinguished solid-like behavior of the MR fluid. Finally, a novel correlation was obtained between the initial settling rate of the CI particles and magnetorheological behavior of CI/laponite/OA MR suspensions with 1 wt% laponite and 0.5 wt% oleic acid, which has less zero-field, high on-state shear stress with enhanced sedimentation stability. The prepared MR fluids are a reliable industrial application vibration-isolation, clutch, and brake.
