Hybrid magnetorheological suspension: effects of magnetic field on the relative dielectric permittivity and viscosity

Abstract

We present the fabrication process of a new class of hybrid magnetorheological suspensions (hMRS) based on cotton fabrics impregnated with silicone oil and carbonyl iron microparticles. A plane capacitor is manufactured having as dielectric material the obtained hMRS. We present an experimental setup used to measure the electrical capacitance of the capacitor in a transversal magnetic field. From the recorded data, we show that the capacitance and the relative dielectric permittivities are sensibly influenced by the magnetic field intensity. Also, we show that the viscosity of hMRS increase with time in the presence of a magnetic field. We develop a model which explains qualitatively the observed effects. The obtained results could be used for manufacturing of textile sensors for industrial and biomedical applications.