Synthesis, characterization and investigation of electrorheological properties of polythiophene/borax composite

The aim of this study was to prepare a suitable composite from polythiophene (PT) and borax. For this, PT homopolymer and PT/borax composite, having 10 wt% borax, were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization using FeCl3 as an oxidizing agent. Borax, PT and PT/borax composite samples were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, conductivity, dielectric measurements, magnetic susceptibility, density, particle size measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods and zeta potential measurements. A volume fraction series of sample dispersions ( ? = 5-25%) in silicone oil (SO) were prepared and sedimentation stabilities were determined. An electrorheological (ER) activity was observed from the sampels, when subjected to an external electric field strength (E) thus, they were classified as smart materials. Some parameters effecting ER properties of the dispersions such as volume fraction, shear rate, E, frequency and temperature were investigated. Creep tests were applied to the suspensions to investigate viscoelastic behaviors and recoverable viscoelastic deformations observed. Finally, 68% vibration damping capacity was determined for borax/SO suspensions system under E = 3 kV, using an automobile shock absorber.