Effect of Plasticizer on Microstructure and Dynamic Mechanical Performance of Anisotropic Magnetorheological Elastomers

Abstract

Anisotropic magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) based on natural rubber and industrial waste nickel zinc ferrite were prepared. Paraffin oil was employed as plasticizer to modify the viscosity of rubber matrix. The amount of plasticizer was varied at five levels (5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 phr) to assess the ability of nickel zinc ferrite particles to align into chain like columnar structures within the rubber under an applied magnetic field. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis over frequency range of 1-100 Hz and a strain amplitude range of 0.1-6% were examined. SEM micrographs revealed that the chain like columnar structures become longer and thicker as the viscosity of the rubber matrix decreased. It was found that 5 phr plasticizer produced the highest tan δ over the range of frequency and strain amplitude explored.