Electroviscoelastic properties in ER gel of disperse system under DC electric field

The silicone oil-based electrorheological (ER) gel containing the non-aqueous fine particles was newly created in the present study. After these particles were dispersed at 30wt.% in the dimethylsilicone oil, the ER gel was produced by the hydrosilylation reaction in the mixture of the modified silicone oil. This reaction could considerably be promoted by heating at 90degreesC. The behavior of particles in the ER gel was observed by a microscopical method. When an electric field was applied to the ER gel, the gap between the electrodes was bridged by the chains of particles arranged in the direction of the electric field. The dynamic properties of the ER gel were also examined under the applied dc electric field up to 2kV/mm using the oscillating rheometer with the low frequencies of 1Hz or less. Consequently, it is shown that the electroviscoelastic effect of the gel can be controlled by the electric field strength.