空间环境下磁性液体润滑/密封初探

磁性液体(磁流体/磁流变液)作为一种新型磁控智能材料,兼顾液体的流动性及固体磁性材料的磁响应特性,在外磁场作用下可实现二者间的可逆性转换。磁性液体润滑密封因其零泄漏、自修复等优良特性受到广泛关注,特别是近年来在航天装备中的应用研究。为探讨磁性液体在航天装备中的应用,从恶劣的宇宙环境出发,分析地外空间装备研发所面临的严峻环境挑战,对高真空、高辐射、高低温热循环三大主要问题进行针对性分析,探讨磁性液体用于航天装备润滑/密封的可行性,总结相关磁性液体极端工况润滑/密封技术的进展和局限性,并提出未来研究中亟待解决的重要科学问题。

A Brief Review of Magnetic Fluid Lubrication/Seal in Space

As a kind of novel magnetic-controlled intelligent material,the magnetic liquid (magnetic fluid/magnetorheological fluid) combines the fluidity of liquid and magnetic response characteristics of solid magnetic material,which can realize the reversible transverse between them under external magnetic field.Magnetic fluids have attracted extensive attention due to their unique properties such as zero leakage and self-healing,especially as promising candidate material for advanced aerospace equipment.To discuss the application of magnetic fluid in aerospace equipment,focusing on the harsh cosmic environment,severe challenges faced by the aerospace devices including vacuum,radiation and thermal cycling were analyzed,and technique progress of magnetic fluid lubrication and seal applied in space devices in the past were reviewed.Both limitations of the prevail development and problems urging to be solved in future around the development of advanced lubrication/sealing devices for deep universal space were proposed.