Magnetically active flexible polymers

Abstract

Thermosetting and thermoplastic elastomers are provided having magnetic filler packed within the elastomeric matrix and capable of being aligned and energized, before, during or after the molding of the elastomer. The magnetically-filled elastomers therefore provide useful permanent magnetic fields which being physically soft. The magnetic filler is aligned within the elastomeric matrix and energized by subjecting the magnetically-filled elastomer to magnetic energy before, during and/or after molding of the magnetically-filled elastomer. A particularly preferred magnetically-filled elastomer is a magnetically-filled polyurethane elastomer composition wherein the elastomer is the reaction product of a urethane-forming compound having at least two urethane-forming reactive sites, an elasticizing diol or triol, and a diisocyanate reacted in less than stoiciometric amounts to allow for the formation of urethane linkages involving less than about 85% of the urethane-forming reactive sites. Vibration dampening devices employing elastomers and, more particularly, the magnetically-filled elastomers of the present invention are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.