University of Michigan

Other

Frank E Filisko

Daniel Roman Gamota

Zheng Lou

Anthony M Waas

Robert D Ervin

Brian L Mueller

Christopher B Winkler

William E Armstrong

Kaajal Raj Juggernauth

William F Armstrong

A method of manufacturing a nanocomposite includes exposing dry nanoparticles to a dry, solid matrix material or pellets in a container to form a combination which is then agitated by rotating about an axis transverse to a direction of gravity, at room temperature and without grinding objects, to cause a tumbling action between the pellets and the nanoparticles to thereby evenly disperse and coat the nanoparticles directly on outer surfaces of the pellets which remain in a solid phase and of the same size throughout rotating. The method also includes processing the resulting combination, particularly polypropylene pellets and carbon black nanoparticles, by heating to form a viscous combination which is then drawn to form a nanocomposite fiber having carbon black nanoparticles dispersed evenly throughout the polypropylene, with a resulting fiber having a diameter of 30 &#x3bc;m-100 &#x3bc;m and tensile strength of 300-1500% greater than a similar polypropylene fiber produced without the nanoparticles.

Dispersion method for particles in nanocomposites and method of forming nanocomposites

An electrorheological damping device for reducing translational vibration between two bodies comprises a rotary electrorheological damper and transmission means for converting the translational vibration between the two bodies to the rotary motion of the rotary electrorheological damper. The rotary electrorheological damper includes a stator and a rotor that are coaxially arranged. The stator have a plurality of stator electrodes, and the rotor have a plurality of rotor electrodes. The stator electrodes and the rotor electrodes face each other alternatively within at least one fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is filled with an electrorheological fluid that varies its rheological properties when exposed to an electric field. The electrorheological fluid fills spaces between each pair of the stator and rotor electrodes. The rotary electrorheological damper is able to control the damping torque that resists rotary motion between the stator and the rotor and, thus, the translational vibration between the two bodies. An alternative embodiment integrates a pneumatic spring into the electrorheological damping device to create a compact full suspension system, where the rotary ER damper doubles as a piston inside the cylinder of the pneumatic spring.

Electrorheological rotary pure-shear damping devices

An electrorheological fluid that includes a dispersed particulate phase of anhydrous amorphous ceramic particles. The anhydrous amorphous ceramic particles can be of a very precisely tailored composition that is unavailable in crystalline form, for obtaining enhanced electrorheological response. The amorphous particles are substantially free of water when used, and have reduced tendency to absorb water in use. Accordingly, the electrorheological fluid containing anhydrous amorphous electrorheologically responsive ceramic particles has wide applicability for use, and enhanced durability in such use.

Anhydrous amorphous ceramics as the particulate phase in

An improved method of inducing a change in the dynamic torque transmission of an electrorheological fluid in response to an electric field at low current comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a nonconductive liquid phase (e.g. high dielectric hydrocarbon oil); (b) dispersing in the nonconductive liquid phase a particulate phase substantially free of adsorbed water (e.g. zeolite); and (c) subjecting the resulting electrorheological fluid to an electric potential in excess of about one kilovolt at a current density of less than about one-third microamp per square inch. Such a method achieves a rate of increase of dynamic transmission of torque per unit voltage, dM/dV, in excess of about 0.034 ft-lbs.times.10.sup.-3 /kV and a ratio of dynamic transmission of torque at an electric field strength of at least 2.4 kV to the dynamic transmission of torque at zero field strength, M/Mo, of at least about 2.

Electric field dependent fluids

An improved electric field dependent fluid and method of preparing the same for use at temperatures in excess of 100.degree. C. (typically 120.degree. C.) without releasing water comprising: a nonconductive liquid phase; and a dispersed particulate crystalline zeolite phase (e.g., M.sub.(x/n) [AlO.sub.2).sub.x (SiO.sub.2).sub.y ] wH.sub.2 O where M is a metal cation or mixture of metal cations of average valence charge n, x and y are integers and the ratio of y to x is from about 1 to about 5, and w is a variable). Such field dependent fluids are particularly useful in automotive and/or other high temperatures applications.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Frank E Filisko