Ionically conductive polymers for ER fluid preparation

Two groups of electrorheological (ER) suspensions containing polyelectrolytes and solid polymer electrolytes as dispersed phases of ionic conductivity were synthesized and their ER effect at elevated temperatures was studied. Polymers were carefully characterised and detailed analysis of their ionic conductivity change with temperature was performed. It was found that in suspensions comprising both types of materials ER effect and current density were closely related to cation type presented in resin and in salt added to solid electrolyte. If small monovalent cations of high mobility were present in the solid phase the ER effect of suspensions as well as their current densities increased strongly with temperature both for polyelectrolytes and solid electrolytes. Presence of spatial cations resulted in lower power consumption and reasonable ER effect within wide temperature range.