New polyurethane-based magnetostrictive composites: Dynamical mechanical properties

Abstract

Polyurethane-based magnetostrictive composites containing between 30 and 70 wt% Terfenol-D have been prepared in order to obtain better and tailored dynamic-mechanical properties. The thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethanes with different chemical compositions were first analyzed to determine the most adequate one to prepare the composite materials. Calorimetric analysis indicates that the amount of crystallites increased in presence of Terfenol-D. Dynamic-mechanical properties have also been determined for the chosen composite, showing that the damping peak at glass transition increased by the addition of the magnetostrictive material while it became simultaneously broader. However, the storage modulus showed a drop with the increase in the filler content from 2200 MPa for pure polyurethane to 400 MPa for polyurethane with 60 %wt Terfenol-D. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers.