Composite magnetorheological elastomers for tactile displays: Enhanced MR-effect through bi-layer composition. (1st June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alkhalaf, Ali; Hooshiar, Amir; Dargahi, Javad
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 190(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-01
• Subjects: Magnetorheological elastomer -- Mechanical properties -- Composite -- MR-effect -- Tactile display; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2020.107888
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, the feasibility of a novel tactile display based on the magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) was studied. To this end, initially, a survey on various requirements of tactile displays for surgical applications was performed. The survey showed that MREs would make a good fit for tactile displays. To further study the MREs, the samples were characterized perpendicular to the magnetic field, similar to the actual use-cases. Also, to compensate for the loss of MR-effect, due to the non-parallel application of compression and magnetic field, MREs were composited in bi-layer configuration with a non-MRE elastomer. The results of mechanical characterization showed that bi-layer composition increased the MR-effect in MREs by 42%. This study showed that further enhancement of MR-effect in MREs is possible through bi-layer composition with a non-MRE elastomer. Also, it was shown that the development of an MRE-based tactile display is feasible using the proposed enhanced MRE composites. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: MREs are the most compliant modality for tactile displays in minimally invasive and robotic surgery applications. MR-effect of various MREs were enhanced through bi-layer composition with a non-MRE without changing iron particle content. The enhancement of MR-effect through bi-layer composition was comparable to the effect of increasing iron particle content .