Improved structural and mechanical performance of iron oxide scaffolds freeze cast under oscillating magnetic fields

Manufacturing processes yielding stronger, yet lighter structures are sought for in many industries and scientific applications. Freeze casting is a fabrication process that offers way to achieve these strong, lightweight structures, but only single direction (the of the templating-ice growth). Applying uniform magnetic field allows increased strength an additional direction, thus allowing them be applied variety complex loading environments. Using Helmholtz coil, it possible apply weak, fields any magnitude, or frequency. Previous research using coils has shown can increase through microstructural alignment, limited reduces applicability materials. To mitigate this, oscillating (i.e., stronger with weaker alternating orthogonal direction) various magnitudes oscillation during freeze-cast materials was coils. These led up 2.5x compared fabricated either no non-oscillating due alignment thickness lamellar walls. This demonstrates material response induced application without increasing maximum strength.