Magneto-active elastomers: Effect of the particle dispersion on the switching ability

As magneto-active elastomers rubber composites based on highly elastic polymer matrix filled with magnetic barium ferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉) particles were investigated. Due to the high ratio of surface to volume and magnetization are magnetic particles prone to aggregate. To enhance the dispersion and the compatibility between the particle and the rubber matrix a functionalization of the ferrite should be used. A better dispersion of the ferrite particles contributes to better switching ability of the magneto- active elastomers actuated by a magnetic field. In this work the barium ferrite surface were modified using triethoxy(octylsilane) as a coupling agent. Especially the effects on the viscoelastic performance of the magnetoactive elastomers based on butadiene and silicon rubbers were investigated.