Effect of SiO2 particle size and length of poly(propylene glycol) chain on rheological properties of shear thickening fluids

Agnieszka Antosik , Małgorzata Głuszek , Radosław Żurowski , Mikołaj Szafran

Abstract

The rheological properties of shear thickening fluids based on silica powder of particles size in range 0.10 – 2.80 μm and poly(propylene glycol) of 425, 1000, 2000 g/mol molar mass were investigated. The effect of particle size and the length of the polymeric chain was considered. The objective of this study was to understand basic trends of physicochemical properties of used materials on the onset and the maximum of shear thickening and dilatant effect. Outcome of the research suggested that an increase in the particle size caused a decrease in dilatant effect and shift towards higher shear rate values. Application of carrier fluid of higher molar mass allowed to increase dilatant effect but it resulted in the increase of the initial viscosity of the fluid.