Electrorheological behavior of iron(ii) oxalate micro-rods

Electrorheological (ER) fluids represent smart materials with extensive application potential due to their rheological properties which can be readily changed under an external electric field. In this study, the iron(ii) oxalate particles with rod-like morphology were successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation method using sulphate heptahydrate and oxalic acid dihydrate. The characterization of particles was performed via X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, the ER fluids were prepared by dispersing the synthesized particles in silicone oil. The optical microscopy demonstrated the formation of chain-like particle structures upon the application of an electric field. Rheological properties were determined by means of rotational rheometry including creep-recovery experiments. The viscoelastic behavior of systems under investigation in the presence of the electric field was confirmed by the presence of recoverable strain of the system.