Electrorheological elastomeric composite materials

摘要

An electrorheological(ER) composite material with solid, elastomeric characteristics in the form of an elastomer matrix encompassing an ER fluid. This ER composite material changes certain of its physical properties in response to an imposed electric field (as do known ER fluids), but it has the advantage of maintaining a defined spatial volume without the need of sophisticated seals. It also provides desirable design features inherent in an elastic solid having the specific capability of being molded in conjunction with a containment surface to which it strongly adhesively bonds. Certain physical properties of these ER composite materials and their physical response to the application of an electric field may be varied by varying the properties and/or the proportions of the ER fluid component and the resin prepolymer component which are employed in formulating the composite.