Adsorption of multi-walled carbon nanotube onto poly(methyl methacrylate) microsphere and its electrorheology

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) adsorbed polymeric microspheres were prepared using monodisperse dispersion-polymerized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particle with a diameter of 6.5 mu m. Cationic cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was selected for the process of dispersing MWNTs in the water. The individual MWNTs were found to strongly adherent to the PMMA microsphere surfaces from the SEM images. The prepared MWNT adsorbed PMMA microspheres were investigated as an electrorheological (ER) material, of which the ER fluid was prepared with the MWNT adsorbed PMMA microspheres in the insulating silicone oil. The MWNT adsorbed PMMA microspheres were observed to enhance interparticle interactions, since the degree of polarization of the MWNT adsorbed PMMA microspheres increases with an applied electric field strength due to conductive surface of the particle. Its ER property was confirmed using an optical microscope under an applied DC electric field at 0.3 kV/mm. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.