Manufacturing, characterisation and moulding of magnetoactive thermoplastic elastomers with focus on applications for sensors and actuators

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Increasing demand for multifunctional and functional integrated devices supports the research on smart materials. They include hybrid materials, whose microscale interaction of components results in macroscopic properties, which show magnetically controlled mechanical compliancy. Derived applications can be monolithic sensor actuator systems.The considered project bridges the fields of material synthesis and technical implementation. Manufacturing technologies are strongly required to make the basic material fit for technical purposes. Shaping (semi-finished products, special forms) and the potential suitability for industrial processes are crucial criteria, too.Basing on the experiences with electroactive elastomers, the proposer plans the adaption of processes on magnetoactive thermoplastic elastomers. This includes the selection and testing of magnetic particles, the elastomer matrix and additional agents. Further characterization of the mechanical-dynamic and magnetic-dynamic properties as well as production depending on relevant properties (particle dispersion, processability, fine patterning) is required. The early aim is the shaping of simple geometries (fiber extrusion) and joining technologies (weaving or contacting on substrate) with the focus on manipulative sensoric applications. In Detail, investigation concern a) cilia structured functional surfaces (for grippers) and b) a tactile sensoric mesh. The mechanic compliancy of both subjects is controlled magnetically and, for b), an additional, deformation influenced electrical conductivity provides a sensoric function.