Adaptive optical properties of ER fluid incorporating composite particles

Electrorheological (ER) fluid is one of the popular materials used in smart materials and structures. The material properties of ER fluid can be chang ed markedly while an external electric field is imposed on ER fluid domain. In this paper, the optical properties of ER suspensions consisting of comp osite particles dispersed in silicone oil are investigated. Both de and ac electric fields are utilized to be imposed on ER fluid. The transmissivity of light through ER fluid under various electric fields is detected and ana lyzed. It is shown that the transmissivity of light increases with the incr easing electric field strength and time. The change of transmissivity is ca used by the formation of particle chains. The higher the particle concentra tion, the faster the change occurs. When an ac electric field is applied, t he transmissivity can be affected by the frequency of electric field. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.