Study on the dynamic mechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) with Fe@C

Abstract

Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) is a promising type of smart material, suitable for shock absorbers in tank engine mount systems. In order to improve the performance of the shock absorber, we improve the magnetorheological (MR) effect of the MREs and reduce its loss factor by enhancing the interaction force between the particles and the substrate. In this work, a novel carbon-coated iron material was prepared by heat treatment, and then carbon-coated iron (Fe@C) of different proportions was added to natural rubber to prepare MRE samples. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the MRE samples were tested by a universal electronic tension machine. The results indicated that better bonding strength between the particles and the matrix increased in tensile strength. The MR effect and the loss factor of the MRE samples were tested by a rheometer. The results demonstrated that the MR effect of MREs modified with Fe@C was significantly improved, and the loss factor of this kind of MRE decreased markedly.