Shear elasticity of isotropic magnetic gels

Mechanism for the Magnetorheological Effect of Nanocomposite Hydrogels with Magnetite Microparticles

In a previous study, we presented an empirical law for the magnetorheological effect of nanocomposite hydrogels with magnetite microparticles derived from rheological data. In order to understand the underlying processes, we employ computed tomography for structure analysis. This allows the evaluation of the translational and rotational movement of the magnetic particles. Gels with 10% and 3.0% magnetic particle mass content are investigated at three degrees of swelling and at different magnetic flux densities in steady states by means of computed tomography. Since a temperature-controlled sample-chamber is difficult to implement in a tomographic setup, salt is used to deswell the gels instead. Based on the findings of the particle movement, we propose a mechanism using an energy-based approach. This leads to a theoretical law that shows the same scaling behavior as the previously found empirical law.

Elastically-mediated collective organisation of magnetic microparticles

Gels are soft elastic materials made of a three-dimensional cross-linked polymer network and featuring both elastic and dissipative responses under external mechanical stimuli. Here we investigate how such gels mediate the organization of embedded magnetic microparticles when driven by an external field. By constructing a continuum theory, we demonstrate that the collective dynamics of the embedded particles result from the delicate balance between magnetic dipole-dipole interactions, thermal fluctuations and elasticity of the polymer network, verified by our experiments. The proposed model could be extended to other soft magnetic composites in order to predict how the elastic interactions mediate the aggregation of the embedded elements, fostering technological implications for multifunctional hydrogel materials.

Review on the advancements of magnetic gels: towards multifunctional magnetic liposome-hydrogel composites for biomedical applications

Magnetic gels have been gaining great attention in nanomedicine, as they combine features of hydrogels and magnetic nanoparticles into a single system. The incorporation of liposomes in magnetic gels further leads to a more robust multifunctional system enabling more functions and spatiotemporal control required for biomedical applications, which includes on-demand drug release. In this review, magnetic gels components are initially introduced, as well as an overview of advancements on the development, tuneability, manipulation and application of these materials. After a discussion of the advantages of combining hydrogels with liposomes, the properties, fabrication strategies and applications of magnetic liposome-hydrogel composites (magnetic lipogels or magnetolipogels) are reviewed. Overall, the progress of magnetic gels towards smart multifunctional materials are emphasized, considering the contributions for future developments.

Static magnetic response of multicore particles

We present theoretical calculations of the characteristics of the static magnetic response of multicore magnetic nanoparticles. These particles contain a considerable number (∼10^{2}) of single-domain magnetic nanocrystallites, which are modeled as uniformly magnetized balls with uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy, the energetic barrier of which is comparable with the thermal energy. Thus, we model a multicore magnetic nanoparticle as an ensemble of superparamagnetic nanoparticles, the position and the easy magnetization axis of which are fixed but randomly distributed. Summing up the magnetic moments of the nanocrystallites inside a multicore particle, we thus obtain the magnetic moment of the multicore particle under the assumption that magnetic interactions between the nanocrystallites can be neglected. It is found that the weak-field magnetic response of these multicore particles is independent of anisotropy constant. The model is compared with recent experimental data and good agreement is found.

Adsorption transition of a grafted ferromagnetic filament controlled by external magnetic fields

Extensive Langevin dynamics simulations are used to characterize the adsorption transition of a flexible magnetic filament grafted onto an attractive planar surface. Our results identify different structural transitions at different ratios of the thermal energy to the surface attraction strength: filament straightening, adsorption, and the magnetic flux closure. The adsorption temperature of a magnetic filament is found to be higher in comparison to an equivalent nonmagnetic chain. The adsorption has been also investigated under the application of a static homogeneous external magnetic field. We found that the strength and the orientation of the field can be used to control the adsorption process, providing a precise switching mechanism. Interestingly, we have observed that the characteristic field strength and tilt angle at the adsorption point are related by a simple power law.

On anisotropic mechanical properties of heterogeneous magnetic polymeric composites

This study is devoted to the magneto-mechanical characterization of heterogeneous magnetoactive elastomers based on an elastic polydimethylsiloxane matrix with embedded spherical magnetic soft microparticles and magnetic hard microparticles of irregular shape. An issue of the anisotropic mechanical properties of these smart composites is considered. Non-magnetized and pre-magnetized specimens are characterized using a planar shear and axial loading in an externally applied homogeneous magnetic field. The field direction differs relative to the direction of the field used for the specimens pre-magnetization. Results of the different methods allow comparison of the tensile shear moduli for the samples with an initially identical composition. Obtained results demonstrate a strong correlation between the composite behaviour and orientation of the magnetic field used for the pre-magnetization of the sample relative to the external field applied to a sample during the test. Composites pre-magnetized in the direction parallel to an applied mechanical force and external magnetic field show higher magnetorheological response than composites pre-magnetized transversally to the force and the field. Application of the external field directed opposite to the direction of the pre-magnetization reduces the observed stiffening. Moreover, in this situation a softening of the material can be observed, depending on the magnitude of the external field and the field used for pre-magnetization. This article is part of the theme issue 'Heterogeneous materials: metastable and non-ergodic internal structures'.

Shear Elasticity of Magnetic Gels with Internal Structures

We present the results of the theoretical modeling of the elastic shear properties of a magnetic gel, consisting of soft matrix and embedded, fine magnetizable particles, which are united in linear chain-like structures. We suppose that the composite is placed in a magnetic field, perpendicular to the direction of the sample shear. Our results show that the field can significantly enhance the mechanical rigidity of the soft composite. Theoretical results are in quantitative agreement with the experiments.

Dynamics in a one-dimensional ferrogel model: relaxation, pairing, shock-wave propagation

Based on theory and simulations, we elucidate the relaxation dynamics of a one-dimensional ferrogel model and provide classification scenarios.