The magneto-rheological(MR) effect of magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) depends on the degree of orientation of magnetic responsible particle(MRP) which are dispersed in the elastomeric matrix. NR was chosen as an elastomeric matrix in order to study the MR effect and mechanical properties of MRE. The viscosity and molecular weight of the NR matrix decreased with the addition of peptizer, and resulted in an increase of the MR effect due to the efficient orientation of magnetic responsible particle(MRP). Isotropic MRE is that the MRP is randomly dispersed on matrix while anisotropic MRE is that the MRP is oriented the direction of applied magnetic field. So anisotropic MRE shows higher MR effect than isotropic MRE.
In this study, The electromagnetic equipment was designed to orient MRP efficiently on the MRE. The viscosity of matrix was controlled by amounts of peptizer and compound condition. According to the results, the viscosity and molecular weight of matrix decreased with the addition of peptizer. However, the amounts and compounding time of a peptizer should be controlled properly because the excess amounts and compounding time of a peptizer were detrimental to the physical property of the matrix by excessive chain scission reaction. So the compounding time of 25 minute and 0.2 phr of peptizer amounts was the optimum in this system. Also, it was studied how the input condition of a magnetic field on uncured MRE affected orientation of MRP which was major factor on the MR effect. Optimum conditions for applying a magnetic field for the orientation of MRP were defined by the input duration time of the magnetic field, rather than the input number of times. 15 minutes input duration time was enough to induce the orientation of MRP on the elastomeric matrix.