PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF HNT–SiO2 COMPOUNDED SHEAR THICKENING FLUID

A novel shear thickening fluid (STF) obtained from a halloysite nanotube (HNT) and SiO 2 compounded system was successfully prepared using HNT and nano- SiO 2 as dispersed phases and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) as the dispersion medium. The steady rheological behavior of the STF was investigated using a high-speed rotational rheometer, and the dispersion states of SiO 2 and HNT in PEG200 were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Results show that HNT and SiO 2 coexisted in the compounded system, and presented a special state that was both uniformly dispersed and partially enriched. The shear thickening effect of the STF was significantly enhanced by the enrichment of SiO 2 loaded on the surface of HNTs in the compounded system.