The Effect of Temperature and Electric Field on the Behavior of Electrorheological Fluids

An Electrorheological (ER) process occurs when the viscosity of fluid with dispersed particles is modified by the application of an electric field. The Electrorheological flow able dispersed fluids can be currently used for fixing of materials responding to mechanical loads and, as working media for dampers and dielectric actuators. The present investigation has been undertaken with the aim of studing the parameters that effect on the apparent viscosity of low–concentration ER-fluid (diatomite in transformer oil). Results demonstrate increases in the viscosity by applying electric field. It is shown that the viscosity behavior can be reasonably modeled as a power –low fluid, with the viscosity equal to a consistency index, K, multiplied by the shear rate raised to the power n-1. Results indicate that both the consistency index K and the exponent n are influenced by voltage and temperature, where K has linear and n has exponential relation with temperature. The variation of the apparent viscosity versus temperature can be determined by these relations.