The Open Mechanical Engineering Journal
2018, 12 : 192-200Published online 2018 November 23. DOI: 10.2174/1874155X01812010192
Publisher ID: TOMEJ-12-192
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Controllable Magnetoactive Polymer Conduit
2 Centre for Biomedical Engineering, East Bavarian University of Applied Sciences Regensburg (OTHR), Seyboth str, Regensburg, Germany
3 Universitat Polytechnicade Catalunya (UPC), Pl. Eusebi Güell, 6 08034 Barcelona
* Address correspondence to this author at the Mechatronics Research Unit, East Bavarian University of Applied Sciences Regensburg (OTHR), Seybothstr; Tel: +49 941 943 1108; Email: gareth.monkman@oth-regensburg.de
ABSTRACT
Objective:
Magneto-active Polymers (MAP) are smart materials whose mechanical characteristics, such as elastic and shear moduli, may be controllable by means of an externally applied magnetic field.
Methods:
Various additives may be used to influence the characteristics of the polymer matrix whilst a suspension of soft and/or hard magnetic particles determine the magnetic properties of the composite. Both pre-cure and post-cure magnetization is possible.
Results:
A range of control strategies have been investigated for evaluation of the system using fluids of differing kinematic viscosity.
Conclusion:
Depending on the degree of magnetic field homogeneity, magneto-deformation and magnetostriction contribute to MAP actuation. This paper presents a novel application in the form of a peristaltic MAP tube system, applicable to flow control and pumping of hemorheological fluids in blood circulatory systems for biomedical research purposes.