Rheological Behaviour of Pigment Filled Polymer Dispersions: The influence of electric field

Abstract

Rheological properties of materials are related to their response to applied stress. The field induced chain formation of a large number of organic and inorganic substances such as starch, aluminium oxide, ferric oxide, carbon black, ion-exchange resins, and polymer powders have been studied mainly in insulating oils. Much less is studied and understood the electrorheological effect of pigments in polymer dispersions. Titanium dioxide is one of the most frequently used surface coatings due to its high-quality and ecologically acceptable properties. In the present paper the authors first review the basic principle of electrorheology, then it is followed by experimental studies on structuring and rheological properties.