Magnetoactive soft elastomers-materials design, processing and applications

Magnetoactive soft elastomers (MSEs) have garnered considerable attention in various fields of application. Their ability to reversibly change stiffness in the presence of an external magnetic field makes them applicable as dampers and shock absorbers, in soft robotics as actuators and shape-morphing structures and in the biomedical field for minimally invasive tools and devices. Significant progress has been made in the development of MSE in recent years. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts, material formulation, processing and characterization of MSEs, including their applications in different fields. Emphasis is placed on various aspects such as particle concentration, size and shape, which influence the magneto-mechanical properties of MSEs. Additionally, this review highlights the various characterization methods, both conventional and innovative, that are used to investigate the magneto-mechanical properties. Finally, the authors have addressed the limitations in the field of MSEs, as well as the future directions for MSEs in terms of their composition and shaping techniques.