Electroactively smart vibration damping suspensions of diatomite/silicone oil

Abstract

In this study, the literature gap for diatomite/silicone oil (SO) suspensions is fully investigated. Firstly, the structure, size, zeta-potential, morphology, thermal, and conductivity properties of diatomite are searched. Then, dielectric properties of a series of diatomite/SO suspensions with various volumes are analyzed and the effects of concentration on dielectric properties are discussed based on the interparticle distances. Optimum 10 volume% diatomite/SO suspensions are observed to show shear thinning behavior with yield stresses of 0.6 +/- 1.8 Pa and 47 +/- 5.2 Pa at E=0 kV/mm and E=3.5 kV/mm, respectively. The viscoelastic test shows that the suspension has vibration damping capability under both off and on-electric fields owing to the dominant elastic behavior. According to the creep-recovery results, the suspension system exhibits 25% recovery under E=3.5 kV/mm. This indicates that the diatomite/SO suspension system can be used as an electroactive vibration damping material.