The rheology of a colloidal PEG-based shear thickening fluid emulsified
with silicone oil is studied in detail. A shear thickening response is
observed in the viscosity-shear rate curves for volume fractions as low
as 10% of STF in the silicone emulsion. From the log additivity rule, we
prove the system to be classified as both a positive and negative
deviating blend at zero shear. This interesting behavior is due to phase
inversion. The rubbers are formed by emulsifying the shear thickening
fluid within the rubber precursors and then adding the catalyzing agent.
It was possible to contain STF in each of the silicones tested and the
rubbers exhibited different behavior with incased STF. Shear thickening
fluid was added to open cell polyurethane to create a Foam-STF composite
which was found to exhibit an obvious shear thickening response. The foam
composite became solid like and absorbed energy at high strains while
still maintaining its fluid-like response at low strain rates.