Linear viscoelastic properties of electro-rheological nano-suspension confined to narrow gap between electrodes

The linear viscoelastic properties of a suspension composed of titanium dioxide nanoparticles were measured under the direct current (dc) electric field with narrow gap distances between the electrodes. The yielding behavior under no external electric fields was also discussed. The wall slip at the interface between the parallel plates and the nano-suspension was briefly discussed. Under the dc electric field, a fine chain-like microstructure was optically found within a narrow gap of 50 μm between the electrodes in the quiescent state. The nano-suspension confined to a narrow gap of 65 μm between the parallel plates was rather viscoelastic even at the highest strength of the electric field of 16 kV·mm⁻¹. Furthermore, fast and slow relaxations of the dynamic moduli were found after removal of the electric field. It was pointed out that the linear viscoelasticity was an appropriate measure of the microstructure before yielding.