ER effect in liquid crystal

摘要

Liquid crystal is one of homogeneous ER(Electro-rheological) fluids in some range of temperature. In the present study the effect of eectric fields on shear stress in liquid crystal is investigated using rotational viscometer. The shear stresses are measured by changing a shear rate, amplitude and frequency of electric fields. Dependence of the shear stress on electrical excitation frequency is mainly investigated. Furthermore flow visualization is conducted and relation between flow rate and pressure drop is measured when liquid crystal flows between two parallel-plate electrodes under application of electric fields. The experimental results are compared with previous ones for ER suspensions.