Electro- and magneto-rheology

Electro- and magneto-rheological (ER and MR) fluids share many characteristics and potential applications in stress transfer and damping devices. Recent advances include improved understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms, particularly with regard to nonlinear conduction in ER fluids and magnetic saturation in MR fluids, and the development of more effective fluids. Although both technologies have advanced in recent years, commercial applications have been realized only for MR fluids.