Liquid-metal/NdFeB/Sillicone Composite Elastomer with Reprogrammable Magnetization and Modulus

TL;DR

This paper introduces a liquid-metal/NdFeB/Silicone composite elastomer that enables reprogrammable magnetization and modulus, advancing the development of adaptable magnetic soft robots for medical, wearable, and robotic applications.

Contribution

It presents a novel magnetoelastomer with phase transition-based reprogrammability of magnetization and modulus, along with fabrication methods and prototype demonstrations.

Findings

Reprogrammable magnetization achieved through micro ferromagnetic particle rotation.

Modulus adjustable via liquid-metal phase transition.

Prototype soft robots respond to different programming requirements.

Abstract

Magnetic programming soft machines has great development prospects in the fields of minimally invasive medicine, wearable device and soft robot. However, unrepeatable magnetization and low modulus limits their applications. So far, there are few techniques that can make magnetic soft robots have adjustable functions, mechanical and electrical properties. This paper presented a magnetic functional elastomer based on liquid metal-NdFeB-Silicone composite materials. This magnetoelastomer uses the phase transition characteristics of liquid-metal and magnetic guided rotation of micro ferromagnetic particles to realize reprogrammable magnetization and modulus. The elastomer's fabrication method was given and the basic programmable properties were tested. Some robot prototypes have also been manufactured to show how to respond to different mission requirements by programming magnetization and modulus. Our research provides a new path for the design and large-scale manufacturing of magnetic soft robot.