Synthesis, characterization and electrorheological properties of polyindene/colemanite composite

The aim of this study was to prepare a suitable composite from polyindene (PIn) and colemanite, subject to full characterization and then to investigate their electrorheological (ER) and vibration damping characteristics. For this purpose, PIn/colemanite composite, having 5 wt% colemanite, was synthesized in-situ by chemical oxidative polymerization using FeCl3 as an oxidizing agent. Colemanite, PIn and PIn/colemanite samples were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, conductivity, dielectric measurements, magnetic susceptibility, density, particle size measurements, TGA/DSC, XRD, SEM methods and zeta ( ? )-potential measurements. A volume fraction series of sample dispersions ( ?? = 5-25%) in silicone oil (SO) were prepared and antisedimentation ratios were determined. Triton-X containing (5 wt%) suspensions of colemanite and PIn/colemanite composite were prepared in SO with ?????????? An ER activity was observed from the samples. Some parameters effecting the ER properties of all the dispersions such as volume fraction, electric field strength, shear rate, frequency, temperature and promoter (glycerol) were investigated. While colemanite/SO, Triton-X/colemanite/SO (T-colemanite) and Triton-X/PIn/colemanite/SO (T-PIn/colemanite) systems showed positive ER effect; PIn/colemanite/SO system showed negative ER effect. Surfactant and promoter containing T-colemanite and T-PIn/colemanite composite suspensions showed higher ER activity than non-surfactant colemanite and PIn/colemanite composite suspensions. Creep-recovery tests were applied to the suspensions to investigate their viscoelastic behaviors and recoverable viscoelastic deformations observed. All the samples showed viscoelastic behavior except PIn/colemanite/SO suspension as expected. Finally, 27% vibration damping capacity was achieved for PIn/colemanite/SO suspensions system under E = 1 kV condition, using an automobile shock absorber.