Tunable magneto-rheological elastomers and processes for their manufacture

US7261834B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of The University and Community College System of Nevada on behalf of the University of Nevada, Reno · US

Inventors

• Alan Fuchs · Reno, US
• Faramarz Gordaninejad · Reno, US
• Gregory Hitchcock · Reno, US
• Jacob Elkins · Reno, US
• Qi Zhang · Mississauga, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: May 20, 2004
• Grant date: Aug 28, 2007
• Expiry date: Sep 12, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16F2224/0283
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Novel magnetorheological elastomer compositions are provided. The magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) may have aligned or randomly arranged magnetizable particles in a thermoset or thermoplastic matrix. The magnetizable particles may be coated to reduce corrosion and/or improve bonding between the particle and the matrix. The magnetizable particles may be flake-shaped. The MREs may have matrices selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated nitrile rubbers, butyl rubbers, ethylene-propylene copolymers and terpolymers, ethylene-acrylic copolymers, fluorinated elastomers, silphenylene-siloxanes, silarylene-siloxanes, poly(carborane-siloxane-acetylene)s and blends thereof. The MREs may also have matrices selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene block copolymers, copolyesters, polyamides, polyether block amides, polyolefin-elastomers other than polyalpha olefins, chlorinated polyethylenes, ionomers, chlorosulfonated polyethylenes, blends thereof, and blends of thermoplastic polyurethane with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylindene fluoride (PVDF), polycarbonate, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).