Scanning Probe Microscopy of Magnetoreological Elastomers
The shape and size distribution of micro and nano-sized particles of a magnetoactive filler in an elastomeric matrix on the surface of a magnetorheological composite were determined by SEM and AFM methods. With the help of AFM, the phenomena of the restructuring of particles of filler aggregates on the surface of elastomers under the action of a small external applied constant magnetic field are directly visualized. A model is proposed for the interaction of a magnetoactive filler with an elastomeric matrix of a composite, which explains the observed experimental results.