Comparison of Torque Generated by In-Plane and Out-of-Plane Anisotropic Magnetorheological Elastomers

This study aims to optimize torque generation in Magnetorheological Elastomers (MREs) containing high remanent Nd2Fe14B particles. We explored two approaches to enhancing the overall remanent magnetic moment of the MREs: in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OOP) anisotropic arrangements of the magnetic filler particles. While the IP MREs have a slightly higher remanent moment resulting from shape anisotropy, the difference in particle arrangement established different effective bending moduli such that the IP MREs exhibit a lower net actuation in a magnetic field compared to OOP MREs. This surprising behavior indicates the importance of a synergism between both the magnetic and mechanical properties for maximizing torque production.