We have investigated the dynamical shear modulus of elastomers within which conducting particles are dispersed. When an electric field is applied, the storage modulus
G′ of these“ER elastomers”increases due to the electrostatic forces among the polarized particles, and the electrically induced modulus Δ
G′increases as the modulus
G′
0 of the matrix elastomers decreases.These results are interpreted in terms of a model based on the competition between the electrostatic attractive force among particles and the elastic repulsive force due to the deformation of the matrix.As
G′
0 decreases. the particles come closer to their neighbors and the electrostatic force increases,and thus Δ
G′increases. These findings should find applications in the selection of suitable matrix materials for the ER elastomers.
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