Polythiophene/Borax Conducting Composite II: Electrorheology and Industrial Applications

In this study, polythiophene (PT) and polythiophene/borax conducting composite (PT/borax) were in-situ synthesized using FeCl(3) as oxidizing agent containing 89.2% PT and 10.8% borax. The electrorheological (ER), creep-recovery, and vibration damping characteristics of the PT/borax composite were investigated. A volume fraction series (phi = 5-25%) of the PT/borax/silicone oil dispersions were prepared and sedimentation stabilities were determined. An ER activity was observed from the samples, when subjected to external electric field strength thus, they were classified as smart materials. Some parameters affecting the ER properties of the dispersions such as volume fraction, shear rate, electric field strength, frequency and temperature were investigated. Creep tests were applied to the suspensions to investigate the viscoelastic behaviors and recoverable viscoelastic deformations observed. Finally, real time vibration damping experiment was carried out on a modified automobile shock absorber and a 68% vibration damping capacity determined for borax/SO suspension system under E = 0.3 kV/mm condition. POLYM. COMPOS., 32:756-765, 2011. (c) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers