Magnetite/Poly(ortho-anisidine) Composite Particles and Their Electrorheological Response

Magnetic and semiconducting Fe₃O₄/poly(o-anisidine) (POA) core/shell composite particles were fabricated by an oxidation process using Fe₃O₄ synthesized separately. The dispersion stability in a liquid medium and the electrical conductivity of synthesized particles were improved because of the conductive POA polymeric shell. The morphological, microstructural, compositional/elemental, and thermal behaviors of the particles were characterized using SEM with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. A smart electro-magneto-rheological suspension containing Fe₃O₄/POA particles with two functionalities, magnetism and conductivity, was prepared. Its electrorheological properties were investigated at different electric field strengths using a rotational rheometer. Without an electric field, the sample demonstrated typical Newtonian fluid behavior, as expected. However, while under the electric field, it exhibited a solid-like behavior, and the dynamic (or elastic) yield stress of the ER fluid increased linearly as a function of the electric field strength in a power-law function with an index of 2.0, following the polarization mechanism.