Electro-Rheological Performance of a Novel Molecule-Based Electro-Rheological Material

A novel type of molecule-based electrorheological (ER) material was synthesized using <em<β</em<-cyclodextrin (<em<β</em<-CD), sulfo-salicylic acid and Y(NO<sub<3</sub<)<sub<3</sub< as original materials by a solid reaction, which includes the inclusion compound of <em<β</em<-CD (host) and sulfo-salicylic acid (guest) and the corresponding coordination compound. The compositions of the material were confirmed by the measures of elemental analyses, IR spectra and XRD analyses of materials. The relationships between ER performance with the composition and dielectric property of the materials were studied. Results show that the formation of the inclusion compound and coordination compound could enhance markedly ER performance of the novel material with <em<β</em<-CD as the host. The inclusion compound has higher ER activity than that of the coordination compound. The composition of a material is an important factor in influencing ER property of the material.