A study of the frequency dependence of the dielectrophoretic effect in thermoset polymers

Ceramic-polymer composites with a 1–3 connectivity can be created via a novel process called dielectrophoretic assembly. The process involves an electric field which is applied to a suspension of ceramic particles in an uncured thermoset polymer matrix. Under appropriate conditions, the applied electric field acts to induce a spatial redistribution of the particles into a chained or fibril structure. It was shown previously that the electrorheological response and fibril microstructure are dependent on both the frequency and magnitude of the applied alternating electric field.³ This paper will show that the frequency dependence of the uncured thermoset polymer suspensions results from the complex electrical phenomena specific to each thermoset system. Specifically, it will be shown through low field dielectric measurements and high field current-voltage analysis that the dielectrophoretic effect can be limited by electrode polarization, ionic conductivity, and space charge relaxation. It is the frequency dependence of these limiting phenomena that gives rise to the observed frequency dependence in the dielectrophoretic force of attraction being utilized to drive particulate assembly.