Patent ID: 8551389
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: B29C,B29K,C04B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for manufacturing an anisotropic material comprising: a) providing a viscoplastic material having a yield stress, and a plurality of magnetic particles disposed therein and suspended throughout the viscoplastic material; b) forming the viscoplastic material into a desired shape; c) optionally, extruding the viscoplastic material; and d) subjecting the viscoplastic material to a magnetic field for a time sufficient to at least partially align at least a portion of the magnetic particles to at least one of a predetermined position or orientation, wherein a stress is created on the viscoplastic material by Brownian motion and/or gravitational force of least a portion of the plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the stress is less than the yield stress of the viscoplastic material, and wherein the yield stress of the viscoplastic material is maintained at the same or approximately the same value throughout the process steps of providing, forming, extruding, and subjecting.