THE RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OPTIMIZATION OF FUMED SILICA DISPERSIONS USING STATISTICAL EXPERIMENTAL-DESIGN AND TAGUCHI METHOD

The rheological properties of fumed silica filled Bis-GMA dispersions were analyzed using statistical experimental design and Taguchi method . Viscosity and shear thinning property were considered as the rheolog ical properties. Silica content, silane concentration, diluent concent ration, sheer rate, and temperature were chosen as significant factors . Statistical experimental design using analysis of variance and ortho gonal array was applied to optimize the viscosity of the dispersions, and Taguchi's parameter design was simultaneously performed to analyze the shear thinning property of the dispersions. Shear rare, silica co ntent, and gamma-MPS concentration showed major effects on the viscosi ty, and silica contents and gamma-MPS concentration also had principal effects on shear thinning property of the fumed silica dispersions. D iluent concentration was determined as the only insignificant factor c oncerning the viscosity, while the temperature was the sole factor not to influence the shear thinning property of the dispersion. Optimum v iscosity condition and less shear thinning condition were also determi ned using statistical experimental design and Taguchi method. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.