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Magnetically tunable surface properties of soft magnetoactive elastomers

Subject Area Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
Materials in Sintering Processes and Generative Manufacturing Processes
Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
Term from 2020 to 2023
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 437391117
 
Final Report Year 2024

Final Report Abstract

In summary, we successfully developed soft (effective shear modulus about 10 kPa and lower) magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) layers based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrices filled with µm-sized iron particles, which are suitable for effective control of different surface properties by easily realizable magnetic fields. The technological achievements include a new fabrication method at OTH Regensburg, allowed one to enhance the response of the apparent contact angle to the magnetic field by exposing the particle-enriched side of MAEs to water, and a laser micromachining method for structuring of MAE surfaces (Prof. M. Jezeršek with co-workers at the University of Ljubljana, UL). A novel experimental setup was developed at OTH Regensburg for measuring the contact angle of liquids on MAE surfaces in the presence of magnetic field under dynamic conditions. This setup successfully enabled first-time measurements of dynamic contact angles on MAE surfaces. The roles of the filler concentration and material softness on dynamic wetting of MAE surfaces were elaborated. In cooperation with the group of Prof. Drevenšek-Olenik at UL, the feasibility of the realization of reconfigurable (erasable) diffractive optical elements employing the magnetic-shapememory effect (field-induced plasticity) has been demonstrated experimentally for the first time. A series of collaborative works with the partner groups from UL discovered and investigated new functionalities of laser ablated lamellar MAE structures for manipulation of liquids (wetting, splashing and transportation of liquids) and small solid objects (transportation and rebound). A collaborative work with the group of Prof. S. Gorb at the University of Kiel made the first step towards understanding the relationships between the magnetically switchable adhesion and friction of soft MAEs and the corresponding bulk (e.g., shear modulus) as well as surface (e.g., surface roughness) properties. Finally, the fundamental knowledge and experience, obtained during the project, on the fabrication of smart MAE-based surfaces and their responsive performance will be further extended to design smart materials and structures with advanced architectures and controllable surface properties as well as understanding interactions between their constituents. We see potential applications of discovered effects and new technologies in soft robotics, microfluidics, impact engineering and advanced thermal management.

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