Magnetic field tuning of mechanical properties of ultrasoft PDMS-based magnetorheological elastomers for biological applications

Authors

Andy T. Clark, Bryn Mawr CollegeFollow
Alexander Bennett, University of Pennsylvania
Emile Kraus, University of Pennsylvania
Katarzyna Pogoda, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Andrejs Cēbers, University of Latvia
Paul Janmey, University of Pennsylvania
Kevin T. Turner, University of Pennsylvania
Elise A. Corbin, University of Delaware
Xuemei Cheng, Bryn Mawr CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Version

Author's Final Manuscript

Publication Title

Multifunctional Materials

Volume

4

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

We report tuning of the moduli and surface roughness of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) by varying applied magnetic field. Ultrasoft MREs are fabricated using a physiologically relevant commercial polymer, Sylgard^TM 527, and carbonyl iron powder (CIP). We found that the shear storage modulus, Young's modulus, and root-mean-square surface roughness are increased by ∼41×, ∼11×, and ∼11×, respectively, when subjected to a magnetic field strength of 95.5 kA m⁻¹. Single fit parameter equations are presented that capture the tunability of the moduli and surface roughness as a function of CIP volume fraction and magnetic field strength. These magnetic field-induced changes in the mechanical moduli and surface roughness of MREs are key parameters for biological applications.

Citation

Clark, A. T., Bennett, A., Kraus, E., Pogoda, K., Cēbers, A., Janmey, P., Turner, K. T., Corbin, E. A., and X. Cheng. 2021. "Magnetic field tuning of mechanical properties of ultrasoft PDMS-based magnetorheological elastomers for biological applications." Multifunct. Mater. 4.3: 035001.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1088/2399-7532/ac1b7e/cm_linker_open_url