Electrorheological performance of graphene oxide particles grafted with poly(alpha-methylstyrene) using SI-ATRP approach

Abstract

Electrorheological (ER) suspension are special class of systems, those physical properties, such as viscosity can be tuned using external electric field strength. Generally, they are two-phase systems consisting of solid polarizable particles and liquid insulating medium. After application of the external electric field, the particles are polarized and create the chain-like structures in the direction of the electric field streamlines. Such internal structure development resulting in the significant increase in viscosity usually in four orders of magnitude and more. This phenomenon is reversible, repeatable and once the electric field is switched-off the suspension become to its initial state. However, due to the usually various nature of dispersed phase and liquid medium, the sedimentation stability of the suspensions is the main issue. In addition, the ER performance of various systems based on conducting polymers is not sufficient, thus the development of the novel dispersed phases are still attractive. Moreover, graphene oxide (GO) particles and their hybrids were recently recognized as suitable materials for ER suspensions. Hence, we were performed the SI-ATRP from GO surface as a novel approach how to provide GO-polymer particles with tunable conductivity and polymer layer in single step and thus solve the main drawbacks such as sedimentation stability as well as proper ER performance. © 2018 TANGER Ltd. All Rights Reserved.