Influence of curing time on the anisotropic microstructure of magnetorheological elastomer

Magnetoheological elastomer (MRE) is new kinds of smart materials whose dynamic mechanic performances can be controlled by an applied magnetic field. The MR effect of MRE is strongly influenced by the anisotropic microstructure of materials. In this article, the influence of curing time on the anistropic microstructure was studied. Samples with different curing time were prepared. Their microstructures were observed and their dynamic shear modulus was also measured. A critical curing time was found. When the curing time was shorter than it, the regular column structure and MR effect was found increasing with the curing time; when longer than it, the microstructure and MR effect of materials had a little change. To explain, the formation of microstructure of MRE was analyzed.