Research on Electrorheological Fluid Containing Rare Earth Cerium

Electrorheological fluid was prepared by inducting rare earth cerium into mixture of nano-silicon dioxide/hydroxyl silicon oil and its structure was analyzed by infrared spectra. The results showed that rare earth modified SiO2, obtained by reaction of acrylic acid cerium and silane coupler, had big electrorheological effect which hydroxyl silicon oil acted as dispersed medium. The electrorheological fluid had high stability and showed change of solid-fluid at low electric field (1 kV·mm-1). Diluted experimentation by using methylic silicon oil showed that rare earth cerium could not only enhance polarization of SiO2but also the interaction of SiO2and hydroxyl silicon oil and hydroxyl silicon oil could boost electrorheological effect by polarizing in electric field. © 2007 The Chinese Society of Rare Earths.