HOMOGENEOUS AND BLENDED ER FLUIDS WITH POLYETHER DERIVATIVES

Various ER fluids were prepared based on polyethers such as polypropylene glycol and polytetramethylene glycol. The polyethers were modified with isocyanates to give homogeneous liquids which show a positive or a negative ER effect depending on the molecular structure. The molecular motion of an urea-derivative of the polyether was analyzed with the NMR relaxation method. The modified polyethers were also used as a component of immiscible blends with silicones and suspensions. The immiscible blends showed a positive ER effects even when the polyether showed a negative ER effect. The suspensions tended to show a positive ER effect, which is similar to usual ER suspensions.