A Model of a “Smart” Thermoresponsive Composite with Convertible Surface Geometry Controlled by the Magnetocaloric Effect

A model of a “smart” composite based on a thermosensitive PNIPAM polymer deposited on a FeRh substrate with a modified periodic microstructure was proposed. The initial parameters of the model were determined from the properties of the actual composite sample and its components. Cooling of the sample using a magnetic field was shown by two independent methods, and at ~37 °C, it was −5.5 °C when a magnetic field of 1.8 T was applied. Based on experimental data, models of traditional and modified PNIPAM/FeRh composites were constructed. Calculations show that surface modification allows for an increase in the activation time for a polymer layer that is 20 µm thick from ~20 ms for a conventional composite to ~60 ms for a modified composite. Modification of the surface in the form of wells can be used to more effectively implement the idea of loading and releasing drugs for potential biomedical applications.