Elastic modulus of viscoelastic magnetic silicone gel body

This paper describes various viscoelastic magnetic silicone gel bodies developed to create a new type of viscoelastic magnetic material. This material is capable of undergoing substantial changes in mechanical properties due to the large deformation caused by magnetic traction force under the application of a moderate strength magnetic field. This study performed tensile tests for various viscoelastic magnetic silicone gel bodies under a uniform steady magnetic field. The elastic moduli of the gel bodies were measured under different controlled experimental conditions. The experimental results showed that, under the applied magnetic field, the elastic moduli of the viscoelastic magnetic silicone gel bodies increased and were largely dependent upon the magnetic properties of the magnetic particles. The magnetic particle size and the material properties of the dispersant and the silicone gel also had significant effects on the moduli of the gel bodies. This paper also discusses the most appropriate combination of the materials used in this study from the standpoint of gaining a large magnetic traction force. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers