Magnetic nanogels represent a cutting edge of magnetic soft matter research
due to their numerous potential applications. Here, using Langevin dynamics
simulations, we analyse the influence of magnetic nanogel concentration and
embedded magnetic particle interactions on the self-assembly of magnetic
nanogels at zero field. For this, we calculated radial distribution functions
and structure factors for nanogels and magnetic particles within them. We found
that, in comparison to suspensions of free magnetic nanoparticles, where the
self-assembly is already observed if the interparticle interaction strength
exceeds the thermal fluctuations by approximately a factor of three,
self-assembly of magnetic nanogels only takes place by increasing such ratio
above six. This magnetic nanogel self-assembly is realised by means of
favourable close contacts between magnetic nanoparticles from different
nanogels. It turns out that for high values of interparticle interactions,
corresponding to the formation of internal rings in isolated nanogels, in their
suspensions larger magnetic particle clusters with lower elastic penalty can be
formed by involving different nanogels. Finally, we show that when the
self-assembly of these nanogels takes place, it has a drastic effect on the
structural properties even if the volume fraction of magnetic nanoparticles is
low.Comment: International Conference on Magnetic Fluids - ICMF 201