Influence of Processing and Storage on the Shear Thickening Properties of Highly Concentrated Monodisperse Silica Particles in Polyethylene Glycol

The shear thickening behavior of concentrated suspensions can be exploited to dissipate energy during impact or shear loading. To preserve the consistency of the thickening behavior in practical applications, particle concentration, and dispersion should be kept within very close bounds over time. In this article, we analyze the influence of the processing methods and storage conditions on the rheological properties of shear thickening fluids (STF) based on monodisperse suspensions of silica particles in polyethylene glycol. Particle dispersion linked to processing method and time strongly influences the value of the critical shear rate and storage in contact with air and humidity is responsible for a change in particle concentration. Encapsulating the suspensions in silicone is proposed as a solution to preserve their rheological properties over time