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EPSRC Reference: GR/K15954/01
Title: A STUDY OF GROWTH OF VINYL POLYMERS ON REDOX POLYMERS & ITS APPLICATION TO ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS
Principal Investigator: Akhavan, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Block, Professor H
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Unknown
Organisation: Cranfield University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 February 1995 Ends: 30 September 1995 Value (£): 17,749
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Chemicals
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Recent observation has shown that selected semi-conducting redox polymers are capable of initiating vinyl polymerizations thereby selectivity covering particles based on such initiating polymers with a vinyl polymeric coating. Such coating, by electrically insulating individual particles, has been shown to improve the properties of electrorheological (ER) fluids based upon their dispersions. ER is an important smart technology which depends upon marked increases in the flow resistance of ER fluids when subjected to electric fields, an increase which is rapid and reversible. It has potential applications in vibration damping, fluid drives and robotics but fluid improvements, particularly in increasing the receptivity, reducing the no-field viscosity and reducing sedimentation would make ER a much more powerful and versatile technology. The present proposal seeks to achieve this by preparing ER fluids based on active substrates with modified surface character. To do so requires a study of the kinetics of the novel surface polymerisation closely linked to the assessment of derived ER fluids. However, the polymerisation studies will themselves provide information of scientific interest and possibly result in wider technological applications outside ER.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk