Enhancement of electrorheological performance of electrorheological elastomers by improving TiO2 particles/silicon rubber interface

Abstract

As a composite, the particle/matrix interface may play an important role in the electrorheological (ER) performance of ER elastomers, which has been overlooked in previous studies. In this study, TiO₂ particles and silicon rubber were used to prepare ER elastomers. To improve the interfacial bond strength, two coupling agents, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (A174) and triethoxyvinylsilane (VTEO), were used to modify the surface of the TiO₂ particles. Particle characterization results illustrate that the coupling agent modified TiO₂ particles present little change in morphology but an increase in size with respect to the bare TiO₂ particles. Compared with the bare TiO₂ particle filled sample, the modified TiO₂ particle filled elastomers present bridging structures between the particles and the matrix, enhanced mechanical properties, and a higher dielectric constant, indicating enhanced interfacial bond strength. The viscoelastic properties of the bare and the modified TiO₂ particle filled elastomers were tested and compared. The results indicated that the ER performance, including the field-induced storage modulus and the storage modulus sensitivity, can be promoted by improving the bond strength between the TiO₂ particles and the silicon rubber.