Influence of electric field strength on the rheological behavior of electro-rheological fluid based on poly(o-toluidine)-coated silica

Abstract A poly(o-toluidine)-decorated rice husk silica-based bio-composite was prepared and utilized as the dispersion phase for an electro-rheological fluid. The surface of silica particles was grafted with a silane coupling agent before coating with the conductive polymer shell. The characteristics of the silica, modified silica, and core-shell structured particles were confirmed via scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmittance electron microscopy. The rheological properties of the electro-rheological fluid under various external field strengths were studied in detail using rotational rheometry. The data indicated that the rheological fluids exhibited high performance with a high polarized rate under an external field and are environmentally benign.