Method of hardening a fluid mass

Abstract

A method of hardening a fluid mass in contact with a wall, in a desirable shape. According to the invention, the fluid mass is a magneto-rheological fluid mixture that in addition to at least one hardening component comprises a particulate magnetic component, with minimally 80% of said particles having a particle size of at least 0.0005 mm, and a magnetic field is applied for a length of time that suffices to achieve the desired strength by hardening in the absence of a magnetic field.

1 . A method of hardening a fluid mass in contact with a wall, wherein the fluid mass is a magneto-rheological fluid mixture that in addition to at least one hardening component comprises a particulate magnetic component, with minimally 80% of those particles having a particle size of at least 0.0005 mm, and wherein: 
 the fluid mixture is brought into a desired shape, and    a magnetic field is applied for a sufficient length of time to achieve a desired strength by hardening in the absence of a magnetic field.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardening component comprises a fluid cement or fluid concrete.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardening component is molten plastic, and hardening occurs as a result of the molten plastic cooling down.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardening component comprises a polymerisable compound, which is cured by means of polymerization.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardening component comprises a cross-linkable polymer, and curing occurs by cross-linking of the polymer.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid mixture comprises 10% to 45% vol./vol. of a magnetic component chosen from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and vanadium.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein minimally 80% of the particles of the particulate component have a particle size between 0.005 to 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein during hardening, the applied magnetic field has an intensity of at least 0.05 Tesla.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the applied magnetic field is initially stronger, and its intensity is reduced once the fluid mass is set to some extent.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid mixture is supplied via a nozzle that is screened from a magnetic field.  
     
     
         11 . The use of a magneto-rheological fluid mixture that, in addition to at least one hardening component, comprises a particulate magnetic component to prevent gas migration in cement during the application and/or setting of cemen around a pipe for the formation of a cylindrical wall part of a bored well.  
     
     
         12 . A magneto-rheological composition capable of hardening.