Magnetic field responsive silicone elastomer loaded with short steel wires having orientation distribution

Abstract

We fabricated a magnetic field responsive silicone rubber–steel wire composite that exhibits large bending deformation under a magnetic field as weak as 0.2 T. The starting materials are commonly available, and the fabrication method is simple. The deformation is the result of the magnetic torque produced by the chosen orientation of short steel wires embedded in the elastomer matrix. This mechanism is confirmed by theoretical modelling. A strip of the composite exhibits a flexible motion of inchworm-like walking when it is subjected to repeated increases and decreases in the applied magnetic field.