Magnetic field sensitive polymeric actuators

This paper reports on the magnetoelastic properties of a recently developed soft and wet material; the magnetic field sensitive polymer gel. It is a polymer network swollen by a ferrofluid. The peculiar magnetoelastic properties may be used to create a wide range of motions and to control the shape change and movement. An understanding of magnetoelastic coupling in gels will hasten the application of gel engineering to switches, sensors, micromachines, biomimetic energy-transducing devices and controlled delivery systems.