Mini review: an insight on the fabrication methods of smart magnetic polymer foam

Abstract

During the last two decades, in-depth investigation on smart magnetic polymer foam or known as magnetorheological (MR) foam has captured researcher's attention and motivated them to develop a wide spectrum of technology and the vast development of this said polymeric foam material in several potential fields such as in engineering and materials technology. MR foam can be identified as one of the MR materials, consisting of magnetic particles and porous absorbent matrix with the rheological properties that can be regulated continuously, rapidly, and reversibly using an external magnetic field. In particular, it is crucial to highlight the types of MR foam fabrication methods as it will be a significant parameter that would affect the designed and the final properties of MR foams. In other words, the main classifications and properties of MR foam are strongly dependent on the types of the fabrication method that were used such as ex situ and in situ. MR fluid foam, MR elastomer foam, MR plastomer foam, and in situ MR foam are the varieties of MR foam, which can be categorized accordingly based on the different types of the fabrication methods. Besides, the components of MR foam, such as the magnetic particles and absorbent foam matrix, are entirely evaluated to provide the researchers with a clear guidance on the selection and the use of suitable main components for the developments of MR foam. In this overview, the main intensive focuses on the fabrications of MR foam, classifications and potential applications have also been revised to enhance the real-world practicality of this material.