Magnetorheological Fluid Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising MR application & subsequent technological developments: The magnetorheological fluids are popularly known as smart materials, owing to their versatility across end users such as automobile, healthcare, and construction, among several others. The MR damper utilizes the synergic effects of a magnetic damper and a variable viscosity squeezed film damper. As per a 2024 Manufacturing Review publication, MR fluids employed for braking applications consist of a Csi 45% solution (49% silicon oil, 45% carbonyl iron particles, and 1% additive). It showcased 92.34 kPa maximum yield strength. CI powder proves to be a better alternative for braking applications as compared to EI powder. The market landscape is evolving with the ongoing launch of automotive dampers. In December 2024, ZF announced the development of sMOTION active chassis dampers for boosting the driving experience. Similarly, earlier that year, in July 2024, BILSTEIN unveiled the DampTronic II, a semi-active chassis system offering cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
• Developments in MRF-driven aircraft landing systems:  Dampers in aircraft are different from the on-road vehicle counterparts as the former not only improve the comfort in the taxing phase, but also absorb the landing impact. Semi-active and active landing gear systems have largely replaced traditional landing gear systems. The magnetorheological semi-active dampers are highly controllable and can be transformed from a fluid state to a semi-solid from in an applied magnetic field. Researchers have been striving to integrate aircraft landing gear systems with the negative stiffness mechanism by using an MR damper. For example, in April 2024, Byung-Hyuk Kang designed an MRF-based aircraft main landing gear system (MRAMLG) using a comprehensive skyhook controller, finite element method (FEM), and rainflow-counting (RC) algorithm.
• Rising use case in prosthetics: Magnetorheological fluids have a widespread application in developing prosthetics, dampers in vehicles and buildings, brakes, and clutches. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) October 2024 report suggests that 2 million people in the country live with limb loss, and this is anticipated to double by 2050. 200,000 individuals are projected to suffer limb loss annually. Typically, individuals experience limb loss due to sustaining a traumatic accident or diseases such as diabetes and CVD. Prosthetic and orthotic technologies are a rapidly growing medical device industry worth USD 8 billion in Canada and the U.S, with over USD 150 billion.   The process of prosthetic and orthotic device procurement includes several stakeholders who determine costs and insurer strategies.

Japan R&D and Capital Investment Trends in Magnetorheological Fluids

Source: MCGC IR, DCF Modeling, Resonac Corp, Resonac ESG, Tosoh IR, Tosoh R&D

Challenges

• High cost of MR fluids: The expensive production and material costs of magnetorheological fluids remain a major restraint for widespread adoption. MR fluids require specialized nano-sized iron particles, carrier oils, and stabilizing additives, driving up manufacturing expenses. Additionally, the need for customized electromagnetic control systems further increases implementation costs, particularly in price-sensitive industries like automotive and consumer electronics. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often find it economically unviable to integrate MR technology compared to conventional hydraulic or passive damping systems. While large OEMs in aerospace and defense can absorb these costs, the high price point limits penetration in mass-market automotive and industrial applications. Efforts to develop low-cost synthetic alternatives are ongoing but have yet to achieve commercial scalability.
• Temperature sensitivity and durability issues: MR fluids face performance degradation under extreme temperatures, restricting their use in harsh environments. At high temperatures, the carrier oil can oxidize, reducing fluid stability, while low temperatures increase viscosity, impairing responsiveness. This limits applications in automotive (under-the-hood components), aerospace (high-altitude conditions), and heavy machinery (foundries, mining). Additionally, particle sedimentation over time leads to inconsistent performance, requiring frequent maintenance or replacement. Although recent advancements (e.g., LORD Corporation’s high-temperature MRF-6050HT) have improved thermal resilience, long-term reliability remains a challenge. These limitations push industries toward more stable alternatives like electrorheological (ER) fluids or traditional hydraulic systems, slowing magnetorheological fluid market growth in critical sectors.