Preparation and electrorheological property of rare earth modified amorphous BaxSr1−xTiO3 gel electrorheological fluid

In this paper, we present a newly developed rare earth modified amorphous barium strontium titanate (BaxSr1−xTiO3) gel/silicone oil electrorheological (ER) fluid. The ER behaviors of suspensions of pure and rare earth modified amorphous BaxSr1−xTiO3 particles in silicone oil have been investigated under a dc electric field. The shear yield stress of the rare earth modified amorphous BaTiO3 gel/silicone oil ER fluid could reach 14.9 kPa at E=3.5 kV/mm while the leaking current density was very low, about 7.64 μA/cm2. The ER fluids with a higher volume fraction had a higher current density and a higher shear yield stress under the same electric field. The ER fluid has a long-term stability against sedimentation. The problem of caking was not serious and the agglomerated particles could be easily broken up by strongly stirring.