Research Project 1 for Doctoral Candidate 1 (DC1):
Mechanically soft magnetoactive elastomers for robotic applications, their durability and aging (WP1 – WP6)
Objectives:
- To develop mechanically compliant magnetoactive elastomers with bulk and surface properties, specifically tailored to the requirements of robotic applications.
- To investigate the ageing and the life-cycle performance of developed materials in the view of prospective applications.
- To reveal the underlying mechanisms behind the MAE aging.
Expected Results:
- Synthesis-structure-property relationships for the relevant bulk (e.g., magnetorheological effect, magnetodeformation, etc.) and surface (e.g., magnetically controlled adhesion and friction, magnetic shape memory effect (magnetic-field-induced plasticity)) of MAEs.
- Fit-for-purpose formulations of the material compositions.
- Conclusions about long-term performance of the developed materials and the underlying physical reasons.
Principal Supervisor:
Prof. Mikhail Chamonine, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Germany.
Host Institution:
Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Germany, the Ph.D. degree will be awarded by Kiel University (CAU), Germany.
Planned Secondments (total: 9 months):
- Months 10-12 at CAU to characterize the synthesized MAE samples and to gain complementary expertise on surface characterization of developed magnetoactive materials. Supervisor: Prof. Stanislav Gorb, Kiel University (CAU), Germany.
- Month 16-18 at WEG to gain industrial experience on incorporation of MAEs into gripping devices. Supervisor: Dr. Stephan Ulrich, Wegard GmbH (WEG), Germany.
- Months 22-24 at SDU to gain complementary expertise on the development of locomotive robotic applications as application of magnetoactive soft materials. Supervisor: Prof. Poramate Manoonpong, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Denmark.