The rheology of aramid platelet suspensions.
INTRODUCTION
Fumed silica is widely used as a rheology control agent at a loading level of about 5% for many
applications such as sealants, adhesives, paints, inks, caulks, and coatings (1-4). The main functions...
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The rheology of aramid platelet suspensions.
INTRODUCTION
Fumed silica is widely used as a rheology control agent at a loading level of about 5% for many
applications such as sealants, adhesives, paints, inks, caulks, and coatings (1-4). The main functions
that fumed silica performs include thickening liquid compositions, imparting thixotropy to them, and
helping suspend any solid particles; a network is formed owing to the small size of the silica
particles that results in a large surface area per unit volume and also due to the presence of SiOH
groups on the surface (5). An alternative thickening agent is an aramid platelet that is marketed by
DuPont under the name Nomex [R] fibrid (6). A potential advantage of the use of fibrids is the likely
lowering in the total loading level of the additive and the possible reduction in aging effects that can
result in batch-to-batch variability in properties.
Aramids are long chain aromatic polyamides obtained upon polymerizing phenylene diamine
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