Switchable adhesion of soft composites induced by a magnetic field. Issue 25 (29th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Testa, Paolo; Chappuis, Benoît; Kistler, Sabrina; Style, Robert W.; Heyderman, Laura J.; Dufresne, Eric R.
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 16:Issue 25(2020)
• Page Start: 5806
• Page End: 5811
• Publication Date: 2020-05-29
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00626b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : Magnetically-switchable adhesion of a two-phase composite to non-magnetic objects is achieved by magnetically addressing the material dissipative properties. Abstract : Switchable adhesives have the potential to improve the manufacturing and recycling of parts, and to enable new modes of motility for soft robots. Here, we demonstrate magnetically-switchable adhesion of a two-phase composite to non-magnetic objects. The composite's continuous phase is a silicone elastomer, and the dispersed phase is a magneto-rheological fluid. The composite is simple to prepare, and to mold into different shapes. When a magnetic field is applied, the magneto-rheological fluid develops a yield stress, which dramatically enhances the composite's adhesive properties. We demonstrate up to a nine-fold increase of the pull-off force of non-magnetic objects in the presence of a 250 mT field.