The strengthening effect of 1D carbon materials on magnetorheological plastomers: mechanical properties and conductivity

Abstract

This work reported novel multifunctional carbon filler-doped magnetorheological plastomers (CMRPs) and their magnetic–mechanical–conductive coupling properties. Here, the one-dimensional carbon fillers, such as carbon micro-fibers (CFs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their mixtures (CFs and CNTs) were dispersed into the matrix for the final product. It was found that the CMRPs with 7.5 wt% CFs and 0.5 wt% CNTs had an excellent magnetorheological (MR) effect (2200%) and magnetic field dependent electrical property. Specifically, the resistance was reduced by two orders of magnitude with the magnetic field increasing from 0 to 900 mT. Moreover, the relationship between resistance and strain was also discovered. The resistance increased by three orders of magnitude due to the amplitude of oscillation, which was 10% in the absence of the magnetic field, while the resistance would decrease by three orders of magnitude under a 900 mT magnetic field. The variation range of the resistance increased with the increasing oscillation amplitude, and the period of the resistance was half of the period of the strain. To conclude, the possible mechanism for the multifunctional properties was discussed.