Computational Modeling of Magnetorheological Elastomers*

Ultra-soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are composite materials of polymeric matrix with embedded micro- or nano- sized ferromagnetic particles. They are promising candidates for dynamic cell culture substrata due to their magnetic field dependent mechanical properties. In this work, we have used a two-step, multi-scale approach to model the complex magnetic reversal behavior of MREs. Micro-magnetic simulations were performed using MuMax3 to obtain a detailed description of the magnetic reversal process of individual Fe particles. The micromagnetic modeling results are then used as input parameters for a particle interaction model that includes dipolar interactions and elastic deformations. This model was used to study the magneto-mechanical interactions between a large collection of particles and their surrounding elastomer matrix, which provides insight into the complex magneto-mechanical interactions of MREs.