The influence of carbon nanotube addition on the properties of shear thickening fluid

[摘要] The properties of shear thickening fluid (STF), based on polypropylene glycol and amorphous silica, modified by the addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), were studied. The STF’s viscosity increases abruptly during impact tests. The addition of a small amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the STF, leads to an increase of the maximal viscosity from 2128 to 12,213 Pa·s. To show the differences between various compositions, the microstructures of fluids wereobserved by scanning electron microscopy. A pronounced influence of the CNTs on the ability of impact force absorption was noticed. The protective structure containing 55 and 0.25 vol% of fumed silica and CNTs, respectively, is able to absorb up to 74% of impact force.

[学科分类] 材料工程

[关键词] Shear thickening fluids;rheology;carbon nanotubes;fumed silica;force absorbing systems.