ER Properties of a Suspension of Polymer Graft Carbon Black Particles

Abstract

We newly developed ER particles with sub-micron size. The particle was polymer graft carbon black (GCB1) composed of carbon black particles and a polymer. The average particle size of GCB1 was found to be 81 nm. An ER suspension (ER1) was obtained by mixing GCB1 (30 wt%) with silicone oil (70 wt%). The ER1 showed excellent dispersion stability. Further, GCB1 particles did not settle under centrifuging at 9000G. The zero-field viscosity was 80 mPa·s at 25°C. The kinetic friction coefficient of ER1 was 0.15, while that of the silicone oil used was 0.23. When the electric field of 3 kV/mm (AC 1000 Hz) at the temperature of 25°C and the shear rate of 700 s -1 was applied to ER1, the shear stress of 116Pa was induced. The induced shear stress did not change for a long period of time period. In the temperature range between 25 and 150°C the induced shear stress and the current density were almost constant at any electric field. When 3 kV/mm (AC 50Hz) at 25°C and 700s-1 was applied to ER1, the shear stress of 88Pa was induced but the deviation of the induced shear stress from the average value was pluses and minuses 3 Pa.