THE ANOMALOUS-DISPERSION AND RHEOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF ER MATERIALS

A large low frequency dielectric dispersion, termed anomalous because it's source is not clear, is observed in all ER active materials. It f ollows a classical Arrhenius behavior and as such, characteristc frequ encies can be obtained for various temperatures. However it has not be en directly associated with the rheological behavior of ER materials. In this study, rheological response times were obtained for an ER mate rial by recording the response to a step increase in field. ?he respon se times of 41 msec. obtained dielectrically and 30 msec. obtained rhe ologically strongly indicate that the anomalous dispersion is associat ed with the mechanical ER phenomenon.