Abstract
In the general context of self-assembly of nanolayered clay, we have studied both kaolinite and montmorillonite guided assembly into chain-like structures in gelatin hydrogel. The electrorheological (ER) elastomers, containing clay particles which dispersed in gelatin/water matrix, were prepared with or without the applied DC electric field and cross-linked polymerized with the help of formaldehyde. The experimental techniques include synchrotron X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy. The aim is to produce a water-based, low-cost and environmentally friendly ER hydrogel. The wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) patterns observed from clay/gelatin ER elastomers curing in the DC field are highly anisotropic and show differences clearly compared to that without curing in the field. Both clay nanolayers have preferential orientation in gelatine hydrogel along the direction of electric field.
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