Abstract
A new technology, compression-assisted aggregation, is developed to
enhance the strength of electrorheological (ER) fluids. The yield
shear stress of ER fluids depends on the fluid microstructure. The
unassisted electric-field induced ER structure mainly consists of
single chains, whose weak points are at their ends. This new
technology produces a structure consisting of robust thick columns
with strong ends. As the weak points of the original ER structure are
greatly enforced, the new structure makes ER fluids super-strong: At
a moderate electric field and moderate pressure the yield shear stress
of ER fluids at 35% volume fraction exceeds 100 kPa, well above any
requirement for major industrial applications.