Fabrication of semiconducting polyaniline-wrapped halloysite nanotube composite and its electrorheology

• DOI: 10.1007/s00396-012-2719-6
• Publication Date: 2012-10-25T07:26:26Z
• Authors: Wen Ling Zhang; Hyoung Jin Choi
• Keywords: Halloysite; Thermogravimetric analysis; Electrorheological fluid

An organic/inorganic polyaniline-wrapped halloysite nanotube (PANI/HNT) composite was prepared by the in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of a HNT dispersion. The physical properties of the resulting PANI/HNT composite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. This organic/inorganic composite particle was then dispersed in silicone oil as an electrorheological (ER) fluid, and its ER properties were examined using a Couette-type rotational rheometer equipped with a high-voltage generator. This novel halloysite composite-based ER fluid exhibited typical ER properties under an applied electric field.