Abstract
Stimuli-responsive materials undergo physicochemical, and/or structural changes when a specific actuation is applied. They are heterogeneous composites, consisting of a non-responsive matrix where functionality is provided by the filler. Surprisingly, the synthesis of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based stimuli-responsive elastomers (SRE) has seldomly been presented. Here we present the structural, biological, optical, magnetic and mechanical properties of several magnetic SRE (M-SRE) obtained by combining PDMS and isoparafin-based ferrofluid (FF). Independently of the FF concentration, results shown a similar aggregation level, with the nanoparticles (NP) mostly isolated (>60%). In addition to the superparamagnetic behaviour, the samples show no cytotoxicity except the sample with the highest FF concentration. Spectral response shows FF concentrations where both optical readout and magnetic actuation can simultaneously be used. The Young’s modulus increases with the FF concentration until the elastomeric network is distorted. Our results demonstrate that PDMS can host up to 24.6% FF. When applied to soft microsystems, a large displacement for relatively low magnetic fields (< 0.3 T) is achieved. The herein presented M-SRE characterization can be used for a large number of disciplines where magnetic actuation can be combined with optical detection, mechanical elements and biological samples.
Highlights
Material engineering has in Nature a nearly infinite source of inspiration, stemming from materials with unique properties that result from billion years’ evolution
M-stimuli-responsive elastomers (SRE) was obtained by mixing PDMS pre-polymer (1:10 in volume curing agent/base elastomer) and six different FF volume ratios (S0 = 0%; S1 = 1.7%; S2 = 3.5%; S3 = 9.8%; S4 = 15.4%; S5 = 20.3%; and S6 = 24.6%), corresponding to Fe3O4 nanoparticles’
The final soft microsystem was focused toward enhancing its magneto–mechanical response
Summary
Material engineering has in Nature a nearly infinite source of inspiration, stemming from materials with unique properties that result from billion years’ evolution. Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering | www.frontiersin.org de Pedro et al. Characterization of Ferrofluid-Based Stimuli-Responsive Elastomers undergo conformational or phase changes when external stimuli, such as changes in pH (Xiong et al, 2014) or electromagnetic fields (Shi et al, 2013), are applied. Characterization of Ferrofluid-Based Stimuli-Responsive Elastomers undergo conformational or phase changes when external stimuli, such as changes in pH (Xiong et al, 2014) or electromagnetic fields (Shi et al, 2013), are applied Such stimuli-responsive materials (SRM) (Roy et al, 2010) are heterogeneous composites, generally consisting of a filler – called dopant or additive – that provides the required functionality and a non-responsive host matrix, which confers mechanical robustness
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