A facile electrostatic spraying method to prepare polyvinylpyrrolidone modified TiO2 particles with improved electrorheological effect

Abstract

ABSTRACTAdding surfactants is an effective method to promote the electrorheological (ER) effect of ER fluids. However, conventional fabrication method to prepare surfactants modified titanium oxide particles was complex. In this study, a facile electrostatic spraying (ES) method was used to prepare polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) modified TiO2 particles. The influence of PVP concentration, ejection rate, and ES field on particle size and morphology was investigated experimentally. ER fluids were fabricated with the TiO2/PVP particles and the bare TiO2 particles obtained by a hydrolysis method, respectively. The TiO2/PVP particles have monodispersed size and present core-shell structure. Compared with the TiO2 particles-based sample, the TiO2/PVP particles-based ER fluid presents more significant ER performance, more stable shear stability, and better sedimentation stability. The electrostatic spraying method has the potential for large-scale production of high-performance ER fluids.