The results of a study of magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) consisting of an elastomer matrix with embedded ferromagnetic particles are presented. A continuous critical bending induced by the magnetic field, characterized by a critical exponent for the bending magnitude, and the derivative of which has a singularity in the critical region is reported for the first time. The mechanical stability loss and the symmetry reduction of the magnetic state, which are interrelated with each other, take place at the critical point. The magnetization in the high-symmetric state (below the critical point) is directed along the magnetic field and the torque is absent. Above the critical point, the magnetization and the magnetic field are noncollinear and there arises a torque, which is self-consistent with the bending. The magnetic field dependence of the MAE bending was found to have a hysteresis, which is associated with the magneto-rheological effect. The shape memory effect was also obtained for the MAE bending in a cycle consisting of magnetization, cooling (at H ≠ 0), and heating (at H = 0). The influence of the critical glass transition temperature of the matrix, as well as its melting/solidification temperature, on the magnetic shape memory effect was studied.
Magnetic properties of a magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) filled with µm-sized soft-magnetic iron particles have been experimentally studied in the temperature range between 150 K and 310 K. By changing the temperature, the elastic modulus of the elastomer matrix was modified and it was possible to obtain magnetization curves for an invariable arrangement of particles in the sample as well as in the case when the particles were able to change their position within the MAE under the influence of magnetic forces. At low (less than 220 K) temperatures, when the matrix becomes rigid, the magnetization of the MAE does not show a hysteresis behavior and it is characterized by a negative value of the Rayleigh constant. At room temperature, when the polymer matrix is compliant, a magnetic hysteresis exists and exhibits local maxima of the field dependence of the differential magnetic susceptibility. The appearance of these maxima is explained by the elastic resistance of the matrix to the displacement of particles under the action of magnetic forces.
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