Effect of microstructure on electrorheological property for pure TiO₂ particle material

Pure titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particle materials were prepared by hydrolyzing titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄). The microstructures of these materials were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), accelerated surface area and porosimetry apparatus (BET), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TiO₂ materials obtained by calcinations under different temperatures distinctly revealed different microstructures in crystal structure type, surface area, pore size, pore volume and grain size. The relationship between the microstructure of the TiO₂ materials and their electrorheological (ER) activity was investigated. Anatase titania particles have better ER performance than rutile titania particles. Amorphous TiO₂ materials display higher ER activity than the crystalline titania materials. A large pore volume can be more advantageous in improving the ER effect of a particle material.