Studies on Saponification of Acrylonitrile Terpolymer for Suspending Particles of Electrorheological Fluids

In order to prepare suspending particles for electrorheological fluids, hetergeneous hydrolysis of acrylonitrile terpolymer is conducted in presence of saponifying agent(sodium hydroxide) in this paper. The effects of the saponification conditions such as the amount of added sodium hydroxide, time duration and temperature on the degree of saponification are studied in detail. Meanwhile, the conversion of nitrile groups is discussed with the result that the saponification of nitrile groups of the terpolymer initially yields amide groups, then slows down to carboxylic groups. The research sets a way for the preparation of dispersing particles of water-free electrorheological fluids tentatively used for controlling light transmittance.