By
Tian Hao, Cambridge, MA, USA
Description
An electrorheological (ER) suspension is made from an insulating liquid medium embodying either a semi-conductive particulate material
or a semi-conductive liquid material (usually a liquid crystal material). Since its mechanical properties can be easily controlled over
a wide range (almost from a pure liquid to a solid), the ER fluid can be used as an electric and mechanical interface in various industrial
areas, for example, in the automotive industrial for clutch, brake and damping systems and in robotic arm joints and hands.
In addition,
the ER technique can be used to fabricate advanced functional materials such as photonic crystals, smart inks, and heterogeneous polymer
composites.
The major objective of
Electrorheological Fluids is to present a comprehensive survey on the ER suspensions
in term of screening high performance ER materials, physical mechanisms of the ER effect, and the applications of ER technology.
Included in series
Studies in Interface Science
Audience:
For those working in the ER fluids area/related application fields and informing those interested in non-aqueous systems including polymer and polymer composites
