Tuning the tensile modulus of magnetorheological elastomers with magnetically hard powder

It has been experimentally determined the tensile modulus of magnetorheological elastomers based on magnetically hard particles. Samples of the elastomer consisting of a soft elastic matrix and micron-sized particles of FeNdB powder have been magnetized in uniform magnetic fields of varying strength in order to provide different remanence magnetizations. The tensile modulus of these samples was measured small and large strain regimes (up to 6.6%) through mechanical elongation with a table top machine. The relative change in the tensile modulus after the sample was magnetized can reach 360%, depending on the remanence magnetization and the strain.