Giant reduction in dynamic modulus of kappa-carrageenan magnetic gels

Effects of magnetization on the complex modulus of kappa-carrageenan magnetic gels have been investigated. The magnetic gel was made of a natural polymer, kappa-carrageenan, and a ferrimagnetic particle, barium ferrite. The complex modulus was measured before and after magnetization of the gel by dynamic viscoelastic measurements with a compressional strain. The gels showed a giant reduction in the storage modulus of approximately 10(7) Pa and also in the loss modulus of approximately 10(6) Pa due to magnetization. The reduction increased with increasing volume fraction of ferrite, and it was nearly independent of the frequency. It was also found that the change in the modulus was nearly independent of the magnetization direction and irradiation time of the magnetic fields to the gel. The magnetic gels demonstrating the giant reduction in the dynamic modulus showed a large nonlinear viscoelastic response. It was observed that the magnetic gel was deformed slightly due to magnetization. The observed giant complex modulus reduction could be attributed to the nonlinear viscoelasticity and deformation caused by magnetization. Magnetism, nonlinear viscoelasticity, and effects of magnetization on the morphological and shape changes were discussed.