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Shear thickening fluids (STFs) of differing compositions were fabricated and characterised in order to observe the effect of varying chemical and material properties on the resultant rheological behavior. Steady shear tests showed that for a given carrier fluid and particle size exists an optimum weight fraction which exhibits optimal shear thickening performance. Testing also showed that increasing particle size resulted in increased shear thickening performance and its onset whilst altering the carrier fluid chemistry has a significant effect on the thickening performance. An explanation is provided connecting the effect of varying particle size, carrier fluid chemistry and weight fraction to the resultant rheological behavior of the STFs. Two STFs were chosen for further testing due to their improved but contrasting rheological behaviors. Both STFs displayed a relationship between steady and dynamic shear conditions via the Modified Cox-Merz rule at high strain amplitudes (γ0 ≥ 500%). Understanding the effects of particle and liquid polymer chemistry on the shear thickening effect will assist in 'tailoring' STFs for certain potential or existing applications. AbstractShear thickening fluids (STFs) of differing compositions were fabricated and characterised in order to observe the effect of varying chemical and material properties on the resultant rheological behavior. Steady shear tests showed that for a given carrier fluid and particle size exists an optimum weight fraction which exhibits optimal shear thickening performance. Testing also showed that increasing particle size resulted in increased shear thickening performance and its onset whilst altering the carrier fluid chemistry has a significant effect on the thickening performance. An explanation is provided connecting the effect of varying particle size, carrier fluid chemistry and weight fraction to the resultant rheological behavior of the STFs. Two STFs were chosen for further testing due to their improved but contrasting rheological behaviors.Both STFs displayed a relationship between steady and dynamic shear conditions via the Modified Coz-Merz rule at high strain amplitudes ( 0 ≥ 500%). Understanding the effects of particle and liquid polymer chemistry on the shear thickening effect will assist in 'tailoring' STFs for certain potential or existing applications.

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Relaxor‐PbTiO3‐based ternary ferroelectric solid‐solution ceramics with high Curie temperature end members are effective to achieve broader usage temperature range and drive field stability, meanwhile with comparable piezoelectric responses to binary Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3‐PbTiO3 (PMN‐PT). Templated grain growth is viable alternative to crystal growth that uses templates to induce crystal orientation along a specific direction, thus enhancing the piezoelectric response. In this research, perovskite Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3‐PbZrO3‐PbTiO3 (PSN‐PZ‐PT) system with varying components is developed to determine the morphotropic phase boundary; together with the texturing characteristics, a high piezoelectric response with broad temperature usage range is expected. 37.5PSN‐20PZ‐42.5PT exhibits enhanced piezoelectric d33 of 530 pC N−1 and strain level of 0.20% at 20 kV cm−1, while retaining a high Curie temperature of 309 °C. Of particular interest is that a high piezoelectric voltage coefficient g33, totaling 56 × 10−3 Vm N−1 can be achieved in this composition, leading to a high figure of merit, (d33 × g33)/tan δ, of 5.8 × 10−10 m2 N−1, one order higher than that of PMN‐PT textured counterpart, being potential for energy harvesting and hydrophone applications.