| abstract |
This invention relates to electroviscous (EV) fluids consisting of solid hydrophilic particles dispersed in hydrophobic liquids, where the liquid contains a diaryl derivative component of general formula I n<CHEM>n in which R is CY2, O, S, SO, SO2, SiF2, or O-SiY2-O, X<1> and X<2> are halogens, (m+n) is between 1 and 3 on average, and (p+q) is between 0 and 1 on average. EV fluids containing these novel components possess generally improved properties in terms of lower viscosities, electrical conductivities, toxicities and freezing points. In a preferred embodiment, the component is a mixture of brominated diphenyl methanes in which R is CH2 n = 0, X<1> = Br, (m+n) is approximately one and (p+q) = 0. |