Electric Characteristics of MCF Rubber Sensor Made by Electrolytic Polymerization

Abstract

MCF haptic rubber sensor contains the rubber and the magnetic compound fluid (MCF) which has developed by Shimada as a magnetic reactive intelligent fluid by compounding μm-ordered metal particles and magnetic fluid (MF) having magnetic particles (Fe₃O₄). The characteristics of the MCF rubber previously made of by utilizing a natural rubber and by the application of a magnetic field have been changed due to aging. In the present study, a new making method of preventing the aged deterioration is shown. By the application of the DC voltage as well as by that of the magnetic field, the electric current path is formed by many double bonds of the natural rubber arranged as the radical polymerization along the line of the magnetic force direction by the effect of the magnetic clusters of metal and Fe₃O₄ particles. Sensibility of the MCF rubber can be more improved by utilizing doping.