Magnetorheological elastomers with particle chain orientation: modelling and experiments

This work describes a new model of the magneto-induced shear storage modulus to simulate the shear behavior of magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) with particle chain orientation. The directionality of the chains is here described by using as a parameter the tilt angle with the external magnetic field. The magnetized particles within the MRE are described as magnetic dipoles. The model takes into consideration the dipole–dipole interaction and the magnetic field coupling between the particles in the chain. Magneto-rheological samples with different particle sizes and initial inclination angles have also been prepared and subjected to shear tests in a rheometer facility. The simulations from the model show that the magneto-induced modulus strongly depends on the initial inclination angle of the particle chain. The experimental data are also consistent with the results provided by the model, and confirm that the change of the initial tilt angle of the particle chain is an effective tool to improve the mechanical properties of magneto-rheological elastomers. (paper)