Enhanced cluster order-disorder transition-induced dilatancy in silane-functionalized nanosilica colloids.

Herein, we report a novel nanosilica-based shear-thickening fluid, whose shear-thickening performance has been largely augmented by surface functionalizing silica employing silane chains. The functionalized shear-thickening colloids were transparent; this suggested that they have promise for application. An enhancement in viscosity was observed by over an order of magnitude by the usage of functionalized particles, which could be explained on the basis of enhanced hydroclustering and an order-to-disorder transition of the particles due to physical bonding of the silane with the base polymer. It was also observed that the shear-thickening behavior was grossly modified due to the presence of the functionalized nanoparticles. Oscillatory analysis showed that the functionalized colloids exhibited an improved dynamic response, with enhanced elastic behavior under variant strain and frequency conditions. Additionally, impact resistance tests revealed that the thickening of the viscosity upon impact was augmented by over an order of magnitude; this established these functionalized colloids as excellent candidates for liquid armors. The viscoelastic behavior was modeled based on the Cox-Merz formalism. Additionally, three-element viscoelastic modeling was performed, and it was observed that while the silica-based colloids conformed to the predominantly viscous model, the functionalized system transited to a predominantly elastic model. The present article can have important implications for the design and engineering of shear-thickening fluids employing nanomaterials.

Large electrorheological phenomena in graphene nano-gels.

Large-scale electrorheology (ER) response has been reported for dilute graphene nanoflake-based ER fluids that have been engineered as novel, readily synthesizable polymeric gels. Polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) based graphene gels have been synthesized and a very high ER response (∼125 000% enhancement in viscosity under influence of an electric field) has been observed for low concentration systems (∼2 wt.%). The gels overcome several drawbacks innate to ER fluids. The gels exhibit long term stability, a high graphene packing ratio which ensures very high ER response, and the microstructure of the gels ensures that fibrillation of the graphene nanoflakes under an electric field is undisturbed by thermal fluctuations, further leading to mega ER. The gels exhibit a large yield stress handling caliber with a yield stress observed as high as ∼13 kPa at 2 wt.% for graphene. Detailed investigations on the effects of graphene concentration, electric field strength, imposed shear resistance, transients of electric field actuation on the ER response and ER hysteresis of the gels have been performed. In-depth analyses with explanations have been provided for the observations and effects, such as inter flake lubrication/slip induced augmented ER response. The present gels show great promise as potential ER gels for various smart applications.

Near-field magnetostatics and Néel-Brownian interactions mediated magneto-rheological characteristics of highly stable nano-ferrocolloids.

Magnetic nanocolloids consisting of synthesized superparamagnetic iron(II,III) oxide nanoparticles (SPION) (5-15 nm) dispersed in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and a nano-silica complex have been synthesized. The PEG-nano-silica complex physically encapsulates the SPIONs, ensuring that there is no phase separation under high magnetic fields (∼1.2 T). Exhaustive magneto-rheological investigations have been performed to understand the structural behavior and response of the ferrocolloids. Remarkable stability and reversibility have been observed under magnetic field for concentrated systems. The results show the impact of particle concentration, size and encapsulation efficiency on parameters such as shear viscosity, yield stress, viscoelastic moduli, magneto-viscous hysteresis, and so on. Analytical models to reveal the system mechanism and mathematically predict the magneto-viscosity and magneto-yield stress have been developed. The mechanistic approach based on near-field magnetostatics and Néel-Brownian interactivities could predict the colloidal properties under the effect of the magnetic field accurately. The colloid exhibits amplified storage and loss moduli together with a highly augmented linear viscoelastic region under magnetic stimuli. The transition of the colloidal state from the fluidic phase to the soft condensed phase and its viscoelastic stimuli under the influence of a magnetic field has been explained based on the mathematical analysis. The remarkable stability, magnetic properties and accurate physical models reveal promise for the colloids in transient situations, namely, magneto-microelectromechanical/nanoelectromechanical devices, anti-seismic damping, biomedical invasive treatments, and so on.