Deterioration behavior of aged magnetorheological elastomer under harsh marine environment

Abstract

Silicone rubber magnetorheological elastomers (SR-MREs) are increasingly recognized for their resilience in marine conditions, offering prolonged service life and durability. This study evaluates the one-month durability of silicone rubber magnetorheological elastomers (SR-MREs) under seawater conditions. Results revealed a 6% reduction in hardness and an 8% decrease in Young’s modulus compared to unimmersed samples. Morphological and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analyses supported these findings, revealing surface defects and chemical bonding changes. The immersed SR-MRE displayed a notable 250% increase in elongation at break, highlighting enhanced elasticity. Rheological properties revealed complex mechanical behavior, with an initial increase in storage modulus from 0.25 to 0.38 MPa in the presence of a magnetic field, followed by a gradual decrease to 0.15 MPa at 0 A and 0.52 Mpa at 5 A with strain. Additionally, this study proposes an illustrative mechanism to elucidate the relationship between seawater elements and SR-MRE behavior, enhancing our understanding of its mechanical properties and degradation in marine environments, thus highlighting SR-MRE’s potential as a durable material compared to traditional rubber composites.

Keywords

• crosslinking
• curing
• degradation
• elastomer
• filler
• payne effect
• plasticizer
• rubber
• magnetic