Properties and applications of magnetorheological fluids

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are materials that respond to an applied magnetic field with a change in rheological behavior. Typically, this change is manifested by the development of a yield stress that monotonically increases with applied field. Interest in MR fluids derives from their ability to provide simple, quiet and rapid response interfaces between electronic controls and mechanical systems. In this paper, the basic composition and properties of example MR fluids are reviewed. Some contemporary applications of MR fluids are then discussed.