Abstract: Retention of position and clamping of components is ideally performed with an engagement arrangement which is reconfigurable. Magnetorheological (MR) fluids have been utilised for reconfigurable engagement arrangements but typically require powerful electromagnets to activate the MR fluid. By providing enclosed chambers with a constriction in the form of a passage between a reservoir portion of the chamber and an engagement portion of the chamber it is possible to utilise smaller permanent magnets acting upon a smaller volume of MR fluid in the passage. In such circumstances initial positioning of engagement elements is provided through forced displacement in the form of a plunger or pin and then retention of the engagement element position achieved through positioning a magnetic field across and about a passage to create an effective block retaining MR fluid volume and therefore presentation of the engagement element.

Abstract: Creation of nanoparticle structures in two and three dimensions is advantageous in providing a number of functions such as in relation to catalytic, optical, electronic and magnetic propertied and other actions. Fabrication of such structures poses a considerable technical challenge. A block copolymer pair is used as a matrix to spatially organizes and aligns loaded inorganic materials in the form of nanoparticles. The inorganic precursors are selectively incorporated to a specific block of a di or tri block copolymer so that through solvent evaporation, reduction and mechanical working such as LAOS the orientation and positioning of the block copolymers nanoparticles are obtained into a desired structure.