Micron-sized Carbonyl Iron Particles Research Articles

Morphological features of magnetorheological elastomer degradation under a natural weathering environment

It is well known in the field of materials science that a substance’s longevity is significantly influenced by its environment. Everything begins with the initial contact on a material’s surface. This influence will then deteriorate and have an extended negative impact on the strength of the material. In this study, the effect of natural weathering in tropical climates on magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) was investigated through microstructural evaluation to understand the aging behavior of the environmentally exposed MRE. To understand and elucidate the process, MREs made of silicone rubber and 70 wt% micron-sized carbonyl iron particles were prepared and exposed to the natural weathering of a tropical climate for 90 days. The MRE samples were then mechanically tensile tested, which revealed that Young’s modulus increased, while elongation at break decreased. Surface degradation due to weathering was suspected to be the primary cause of this condition. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the degradation of MRE was investigated as a function of morphological evidence. Upon examination through SEM, it was noted that the weathering effects on the morphology of the exposed samples showed distinct characteristics on the degraded surfaces of the MRE, including numerous microvoids, cavities, and microcracks. While these features were not prominent for the MRE itself, they bear resemblance to the effects observed in similar materials like rubber and elastomer. An atomic force microscope (AFM) is used to investigate the surface topography and local degradation conditions. This observation revealed a distinctive degradation characteristic of the MRE in connection to natural weathering in tropical climates. The surface damage of the MRE samples became severe and inhomogeneous during the environmental aging process, and degradation began from the exposed MRE surface, causing the mechanical characteristics of the MRE to significantly change.

The effect of salt water ageing on the mechanical and rheological properties of magnetorheological elastomer

This paper aims to investigate the mechanical and rheological properties of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) in marine ecosystems. The prepared samples comprised silicone rubber (SR) and 70 wt% micron-sized carbonyl iron particles (CIPs), immersed in an artificial marine ecosystem using salt water (Natrium Chloride) for 30 days. The mechanical properties of MRE samples were evaluated using hardness and quasi-static tensile tests. While the rheometer was used to investigate the rheological properties of their storage modulus condition with magnetic field stimulation. Further analysis of the defects and damages caused by salt water ageing was done through morphological observation using scanning electron microscope (SEM) technology. The results showed that the hardness and tensile strength of MRE samples that were soaked in salt water were affected over time. Lower values of hardness and tensile strength were obtained after 30 days due to the presence of Na+ and Cl−, which acted as an accelerator to the hydrolyzation process of the MRE. The process then, enhanced the water ingress capability into the matrix to cause the molecular changes. Interestingly, for rheological properties, 30 days of salt water ageing allowed the water molecules to move the MRE matrix molecular chains apart, a process known as plasticization and thus increasing the MR effect. Furthermore, morphological evidence was established to determine the MRE changes during salt water ageing. The research findings should greatly contribute to a better understanding of the effect of salt water on the performance of MRE.

Morphological Effects of Strain Localization in the Elastic Region of Magnetorheological Elastomers.

Strain localization is a significant issue that poses interesting research challenges in viscoelastic materials because it is difficult to accurately predict the damage evolution behavior. Over time, the damage mechanism in the amorphous structure of viscoelastic materials leads to subsequent localization into a shear band, gradually jeopardizing the materials' elastic sustainability. The primary goal of this study is to further understand the morphological effects and the role of shear bands in viscoelastic materials precipitated by strain localization. The current study aims to consolidate the various failure mechanisms of a sample and its geometry (surface-to-volume ratio) used in torsional testing, as well as to understand their effects on stress relaxation durability performance. A torsional shear load stress relaxation durability test was performed within the elastic region on an isotropic viscoelastic sample made of silicon rubber and a 70% weight fraction of micron-sized carbonyl iron particles. Degradation was caused by a shear band of localized plasticity that developed microscopically due to stress relaxation durability. The failure pattern deteriorated as the surface-to-volume ratio decreased. A field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and a tapping-mode atomic force microscope (AFM) were used for further observation and investigation of the sample. After at least 7500 cycles of continuous shearing, the elastic sustainability of the viscoelastic materials microstructurally degraded, as indicated by a decline in stress performance over time. Factors influencing the formation of shear bands were observed in postmortem, which was affected by simple micromanipulation of the sample geometry, making it applicable for practical implementation to accommodate any desired performance and micromechanical design applications.

Natural Weathering Effects on the Mechanical, Rheological, and Morphological Properties of Magnetorheological Elastomer (MRE) in Tropical Climate.

Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) materials have the potential to be used in a wide range of applications that require long-term service in hostile environments. These widespread applications will result in the emergence of MRE-specific durability issues, where durability refers to performance under in-service environmental conditions. In response, the outdoor tropical climatic environment, combined with the effects of weathering, will be the primary focus of this paper, specifically the photodegradation of the MRE. In this study, MRE made of silicone rubber (SR) and 70 wt% micron-sized carbonyl iron particles (CIP) were prepared and subjected to mechanical and rheological testing to evaluate the effects under natural weathering. Magnetorheological elastomer samples were exposed to the natural weathering conditions of a tropical climate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for 30 days. To obtain a comprehensive view of MRE degradation during natural weathering, mechanical testing, rheology, and morphological evaluation were all performed. The mechanical and rheological properties test results revealed that after 30 days of exposure and known meteorological parameters, Young’s modulus and storage modulus increased, while elongation at break decreased. The degradation processes of MRE during weathering, which are responsible for their undesirable change, were given special attention. With the help of morphological evidence, the relationship between these phenomena and the viscoelastic properties of MRE was comprehensively defined and discussed.

Microstructural behavior of magnetorheological elastomer undergoing durability evaluation by stress relaxation

The widespread use of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) materials in various applications has yet to be limited due to the fact that there are substantial deficiencies in current experimental and theoretical research on its microstructural durability behavior. In this study, MRE composed of silicon rubber (SR) and 70 wt% of micron-sized carbonyl iron particles (CIP) was prepared and subjected to stress relaxation evaluation by torsional shear load. The microstructure and particle distribution of the obtained MRE was evaluated by a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The influence of constant low strain at 0.01% is the continuing concern within the linear viscoelastic (LVE) region of MRE. Stress relaxation plays a significant role in the life cycle of MRE and revealed that storage modulus was reduced by 8.7%, normal force has weakened by 27%, and stress performance was reduced by 6.88% along approximately 84,000 s test duration time. This time scale was the longest ever reported being undertaken in the MRE stress relaxation study. Novel micro-mechanisms that responsible for the depleted performance of MRE was obtained by microstructurally observation using FESEM and in-phase mode of atomic force microscope (AFM). Attempts have been made to correlate strain localization produced by stress relaxation, with molecular deformation in MRE amorphous matrix. Exceptional attention was focused on the development of molecular slippage, disentanglement, microplasticity, microphase separation, and shear bands. The relation between these microstructural phenomena and the viscoelastic properties of MRE was diffusely defined and discussed. The presented MRE is homogeneous with uniform distribution of CIP. The most significant recent developments of systematic correlation between the effects of microstructural deformation and durability performance of MRE under stress relaxation has been observed and evaluated.

Exploiting Nonlinear Elasticity for Anomalous Magnetoresponsive Stiffening.

A paradigm for enhanced magnetorheological elastic materials is introduced and experimentally established. We show that a nonlinearly stiffening polymer matrix can be exploited to achieve anomalous magneto-elastomer stiffening exceeding standard magneto-elastomer theory and experiment in terms of percentage stiffness change and sensitivity to applied magnetic flux. Using a model system of a semiflexible fibrin network embedded with micron sized carbonyl iron particles, we demonstrate that even at a modest particle volume fraction (0.5-4%), a coupling between the magnetically interacting dipoles and a strain-stiffening polymer mesh provides previously unexplored opportunities for material design. Our experiments indicate that confined particles within the fibrin network internally tension and stiffen the polymer mesh when an external field is applied, resulting in a field-dependent stiffening response from the polymer mesh that superposes with the magnetic interparticle interactions.

Characterization of bidisperse magnetorheological fluids utilizing maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles synthetized by flame spray pyrolysis

In this study we have used liquid flame spray (LFS) process to synthetize γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles of two different average sizes. Different sized nanoparticles were generated with two different liquid precursor feed rates in the spray process, higher feed rate resulting in larger nanoparticles with higher saturation magnetization. The nanoparticles were used in bidisperse magnetorheological fluids to substitute 5% of the micron sized carbonyl iron particles. To our knowledge this is the first time particles synthetized by the LFS method have been used in magnetorheological fluids. The bidisperse fluids showed significantly improved sedimentation stability compared to a monodisperse suspension with the same solid concentration. The tradeoff was an increased viscosity without magnetic field. The effect of the nanoparticles on the rheological properties under external magnetic field was modest. Finally, the dynamic oscillatory testing was used to evaluate the structural changes in the fluids under magnetic field. The addition of nanoparticles decreased the elastic portion of the deformation and increased the viscous portion.

Magnetorheological fluids based on a hyperbranched polycarbosilane matrix and iron microparticles

Magnetorheological fluids (MFs) based on hyperbranched polycarbosilanes as a carrier medium and micron-sized carbonyl iron particles as filler have been synthesized for the first time. Their magnetorheological (MR) behavior has been studied in steady-state flow regime and under dynamic torsion oscillations on a commercial rheometer. At zero magnetic field, in spite of a rather high molecular mass, the hyperbranched polymers as well as their magnetic compositions with up to 72 mass% of magnetic filler demonstrate Newtonian behavior, and their viscosity considerably increases with magnetic filler content. In magnetic fields MFs show a huge MR response. Namely, in steady-state flow experiments a five orders of magnitude increase in viscosity was observed accompanied by magnetic-field-induced well-pronounced non-Newtonian behavior and a non-zero yield stress. Dynamic experiments demonstrate the transition from liquid-like to solid-like behavior of MFs with a large increase in both the storage and loss moduli under application of a magnetic field. In magnetic fields, the rheological behavior of the obtained MF resembles that of soft MR elastomers being mainly determined by the magnetic particle network formed due to magnetic interactions. In particular, like MR elastomers the MFs exhibit the Payne effect, i.e. dependence of the dynamic modulus on the strain amplitude.

Development of a linear damper working with magnetorheological shear thickening fluids

Magnetorheological shear thickening fluid is a smart material that exhibits both magnetorheological and shear thickening effects. This study focuses on the design and development of a novel magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–based linear damper. First, micron-sized carbonyl iron particles, at a 20% and 80% weight fraction, were immersed among the shear thickening fluid base and thoroughly mixed under a high shear condition to produce the magnetorheological shear thickening fluid. Then, a monotube damper with a bypass was designed and fabricated. The testing results using an MTS machine show that the influence of incorporating shear thickening fluid allows the 20% magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–filled damper to work in different dynamic loading velocities with the stiffness and damping changed, while, simultaneously, the dynamics of the damper depend on the variations in the magnetic field. The measured responses of the 20% magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–filled damper prove that the dampers have both the MR effect and shear thickening effect. In contrast, the 80% magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–filled damper behaves more like a conventional magnetorheological fluid–filled damper because its shear thickening effect is restrained and the MR effect becomes more obvious with higher iron volume.

1105 ドライMR流体の創製とそのマグネトレオロジー効果

MR (Magnetorheological) fluids are the suspensions composed of micron-sized ferromagnetic particles dispersed into carrier oil, and are one of smart fluids which can be changed their rheological properties in reversible manner by applying magnetic field. From the viewpoint of the applications, the no-field initial viscosity of the MR fluids should be regulated as low as possible to minimize the energy loss, and the operating temperature should be higher. However, since the carrier medium is a liquid, the limits of the viscosity minimization and the operating temperature exist. In this research, in order to develop of the MR fluid of extremely low no-field viscosity and higher operating temperature, novel "dry MR fluids" have been fabricated, and the fluidity and MR properties have been measured and evaluated. The dry MR fluid is a novel MR fluidic powder, which is mainly composed of micron-sized carbonyl iron particles coated with nano-sized particles without liquid medium.

0205 高粘度MR流体のマグネトレオロジー効果(OS2 機能性流体とその先進応用,オーガナイズドセッション)

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids have many attractive features, including high yield strength, low viscosity and stable hysteretic behavior over a broad temperature range. In general, low viscosity MR fluids are widely acceptable to the applications to industrial devices with low energy loss under no magnetic field. While, although high viscosity MR fluids are suitable for some applications such as torque converters, viscous couplings, and damping devices which need fail-safe, there is almost no research to investigate the properties of high viscous MR fluids. In this research, the rheological properties and particle settling rate of high viscous MR fluids have been investigated, focusing on the effects of the MR fluid viscosity on its induced yield stress, flow curves and particle settling rate. The tested MR fluids are suspensions of micron-sized carbonyl iron particles dispersed into high viscosity silicone oils and mineral oil. The rheological properties in constant rpm tests and oscillatory tests have been measured using a HAAKE RSI50 parallel disk rheometer with magnetic circuit. An effective means of producing a stable MR fluid is by the increase of viscosity and the addition of anti-settling agent.

Physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels with magnetic field controlled modulus

Physically cross-linked isotropic and anisotropic poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels containing micron-sized carbonyl iron particles were prepared through a cyclic freezing–thawing process. The PVA hydrogel can respond to a magnetic field and shows a magnetorheological (MR) effect, i.e., the modulus of the PVA hydrogel can be adjusted under a magnetic field. The chain-like structures of carbonyl iron are formed in the PVA hydrogel after orientation under a magnetic field of 1.5 T. Also some magnetic field induced oriented pores with a tunable diameter are observed in the dried PVA gel. The MR effect can be adjusted by changing the carbonyl iron content, the initial concentration of PVA solution and test frequency. The formation of aligned chain-like structures of carbonyl iron in the anisotropic PVA MR hydrogel improves the compression properties and the MR effect. At a carbonyl iron content of 70 wt%, the maximum absolute and relative MR effect of anisotropic PVA MR hydrogels are ∼1.24 MPa and ∼230%, respectively. The PVA hydrogels with good MR effects and moderate mechanical strength have potential applications in artificial muscle, soft actuators and drug release.