Electrorheological properties of poly[N,N′-(2-amino-5-carboxybutyl-1,3-phenylenedimethylene)-2,2′-diamino-4,4′-bithiazole]

Poly[N,N′-(2-amino-5-carboxybutyl-1,3-phenylenedimethylene)-2,2′-diamino-4,4′-bithiazole] was synthesized and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Anhydrous electrorheological (ER) fluids were prepared using the polymer particles as disperse phase and bromodiphenylmethane as a disperse medium. Rheological measurements were carried out via a rotational rheometer to investigate the effects of electric field strength and the polymer particle content on the ER properties. Results indicate that suspensions of the polymer particles containing amino and carboxybutyl groups in bromodiphenylmethane exhibit a substantial ER effect.