Rheological behavior of silica suspensions flocculated by bridging

The viscosity and stress relaxation behavior of silica suspensions in polyacrylamide (PAAm) solutions have been studied as a function of particle concentration, particle diameter, and molecular weight of PAAm by the use of a coaxial cylinder type rheometer. The effects of polymer adsorption on the flocculation of particles and the rheological behavior are discussed in terms of bridging. The suspensions of 10-nm silica are remarkably pseudoplastic because the particles are easily flocculated by bridging. The ability of PAAm to flocculate silica particles is very extensive at a molecular weight of 5.5 × 10⁶. For suspensions of 20-nm silica in a solution of PAAm with M_W = 5.5 × 10⁶ − 1 × 10⁷, the apparent viscosity irreversibly increases with shearing time at shear rates beyond a certain value. This may be due to the flocculation by the shear-induced bridging. The suspensions of 40-nm silica show similar flow behavior to the medium irrespective of molecular weight of PAAm. The bridging flocculation is not expected for large particles as one polymer molecule cannot bridge through many particles.     

Rheological behavior of suspensions of modified and unmodified cellulose nanocrystals in dimethyl sulfoxide

The rheological behavior of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and modified CNC (mCNC) suspensions in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was investigated. The efficiency of the surface modification of CNCs by grafting an organic acid chloride to produce hydrophobic CNCs has been verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thermal degradation temperature of the mCNCs was found to be 165 versus 275 °C for CNCs. The CNC suspensions in DMSO at 70 °C underwent gelation at very low concentration (1 wt%) after 1 day. The network formation was temperature sensitive and did not occur at room temperature. For gels containing 3 wt% CNCs, the complex viscosity at 70 °C increased by almost four decades after 1 day. For the mCNCs in DMSO, a weak gel was formed from the first day and temperature did not affect the gelation. Finally, the effect of adding 10 wt% of polylactide (PLA) to the solvent on the rheological properties of CNC and mCNC suspensions was investigated. The properties of suspensions containing 1.9 wt% CNCs and mCNCs increased during the first and second days, and PLA did not prevent gel formation. However, the reduced viscosity and storage modulus of the CNC and mCNC gels with PLA were lower than those of samples without PLA.     

Rheological study of black coal-oil suspensions

The rheological study of coal-oil suspensions is very important because of their application in many industries as alternative fuels to petroleum oil. In this work, the flow behaviour of black coal-oil suspension was studied for a range of coal volume fractions from 0.0378 to 0.427. Shear stresses were measured for shear rates up to 200 s^–1 using a Weissenberg Rheogoniometer. All the suspensions behaved like non-Newtonian liquids and exhibited significant increases in apparent viscosity on storage. The flow behaviour of both freshly prepared and aged suspensions was able to be described by power-law models. A model similar to that given by Chong was used to establish relation between the relative apparent viscosity and coal volume fraction for freshly prepared as well as all aged suspensions. A correlation was also established between ageing time and maximum coal volume fraction. a constant in eq. (9) - A, B constants - K consistency index, Pa s^–n - n power-law index - S structure - t time, hrs - µ _a apparent viscosity, Pa s - µ _r relative viscosity - volume fraction - _m maximum volume fraction - shear stress, Pa - sus suspension - sol solvent - standard deviation     

Rheological behavior of concentrated suspensions as affected by the dynamics of the mixing process

The rheological characterizations of concentrated suspensions are generally carried out assuming “well-mixed” suspensions. However, the variation of the concentration distributions of the ingredients of the formulation, i.e., the “goodness of mixing”, the size and shape distributions of the particle clusters and the rheological behavior of the suspension all depend on the thermo-mechanical history that the suspension is exposed to during the mixing process. Here, various experimental tools are used for the characterization of the degree of mixedness (concentration distributions) of various ingredients along with the characterization of rheological material functions, wall slip behavior and the maximum packing fraction of a graphite/elastomer suspension. The degree of mixedness values of the ingredients of the suspensions processed using batch and continuous processes and under differing operating conditions were characterized quantitatively using wide-angle X-ray diffraction and thermo gravimetric analysis and were elucidated under the light of the electrical properties of the suspension as affected by the mixing process. Upon achieving better homogeneity of the graphite particles and the binder and decreases in the size and breadth of the size distributions of particle clusters (as inferred from electrical measurements and maximum packing fraction values), the elasticity (storage modulus) and the shear viscosity (magnitude of the complex viscosity from small-amplitude oscillatory shear and shear viscosity from steady torsional and capillary rheometry) of the suspension decreased significantly and the wall slip velocity values increased. These findings demonstrate the intimate relationships that exist between the rheological behavior of concentrated suspensions and the thermo-mechanical history that they are exposed to during the processing stage and suggest that the preparation conditions for suspensions should be carefully selected and well documented to achieve reproducible characterization of rheological material functions.     

Comparative study of the electrorheological effect in suspensions of needle-like and isotropic cerium dioxide nanoparticles

A novel approach to the analysis of the electrorheological effect is proposed, based on the expansion of dimensionless relative shear stress as function of electric field strength in the power series \( {\tau}_{\mathrm{rel}}=\frac{\tau_E}{\tau }=1+\frac{\alpha }{\tau }E+\frac{\beta }{\tau }{E}^n \). The application of this approach to investigation of the electrorheological effect in suspensions of isotropic and needle-like CeO₂ nanoparticles in polydimethylsiloxane has revealed that the polynomial coefficients can be judged as a measure of the efficiency of transformation of electrical energy into mechanical energy. The values of α and β coefficients depend on the shape and concentration of filler particles, as well as on the shear rate. The value and the sign of these coefficients determine both the magnitude of the electrorheological effect and the type of dependence of the shear stress (linear or power law) on the strength of the electric field. It has been shown that the values of α and β coefficients for the electrorheological fluids with needle-like particles are greater than for fluids with isotropic particles (at the same concentration of suspensions), which is associated with the different polarization of particles in the applied electric field.

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Graphical abstract A novel approach to the analysis of the electrorheological effect is proposed.

     

Rheological properties of suspensions of polyethylene-coated aluminum nanoparticles

Ultrafine aluminum powder was identified as very promising fuels for novel energetic materials formulations. However, the large specific surface area of this powder facilitates its oxidation and greatly reduces its shelf life. Therefore, different coating processes were proposed to solve this problem. The rheology of viscous suspensions of nanoparticles still remains poorly understood and the effect of the coating of such particles on the flow behavior is even more difficult to assess. We have studied the rheology of ultrafine aluminum suspensions in three low molecular weight polymers of different viscosities: a hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene, a polypropylene glycol, and a polysiloxane. The nanosize aluminum powder was previously coated by a thin layer of high-density polyethylene using an in situ polymerization process. The rheological characterization of the suspensions was conducted by the means of steady and oscillatory shear flow measurements for noncoated and coated particles. The effect of the coating process on the rheology of the suspensions is discussed in terms of the interactions between the particles and the suspending fluids.     

Rheological behaviour of dilute suspensions of platelet particles

The rheological behaviour of Newtonian suspensions of platelets with an aspect ratio ranging from 0.006 to 0.2 is studied in this work. Using model particles to correlate the aspect ratios square-shaped particles with their sedimentation behaviour, the results obtained were used to estimate the average aspect ratio of mica particles. A comparison is made between the aspect ratio measured by sedimentation experiments and that determined from the rheological behaviour of dilute suspensions. Their good agreement shows that the average aspect ratio of a polydispersed suspension of platelets estimated using packing experiments correlates well with the apparent aspect ratio given by the intrinsic viscosity of the suspension.     

Rheological properties of suspensions of spheres in non-Newtonian media

Summary The results of an experimental investigation of the rheologioal properties of dilute suspensions of rigid spheres 100m in diameter in non-Newtonian pseudoplastic liquids are reported. The shear flow properties of suspensions in a solution of polyisobutylene in tetralin, in aqueous solutions of polyacrylamide and sodium carboxymethylcellulose and in a Newtonian fluid have been investigated at solid concentrations up to 10% by volume. A concentric cylinder viscometer was used, results being corrected for end effects and variations in shear rate across the gap. Results for the Newtonian fluid were not inconsistent with published data. It was found that, within the range of variables investigated, for each of the non-Newtonian fluids the relative fluidity, comparing the suspension and the suspending fluid at the same shear stress, was a function of concentration only whereas the relative fluidity comparing the suspension and the fluid at the same shear rate depended on both concentration and shear rate. The fractional decrease in fluidity produced by a given concentration of spheres in polyisobutylene solution was about double that produced by the same concentration in any of the other fluids.In what are believed to be the first reported measurements of normal stress in suspensions, the first normal stress difference (p ₁₁-p ₂₂ for the fluids was derived from the normal force exerted on the cone of a Rheogoniometer during steady rotation. Over ranges of concentration and shear rate limited by experimental difficulties the ratio of shear rate to normal stress for the suspension divided by the corresponding quantity for the base solution appeared to be a function of concentration only when the liquids were compared at the same normal stress but not when compared at the same shear rate. However, this conclusion was less certain than the corresponding result for relative fluidity.

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Zusammenfassung Die Ergebnisse der experimentellen Untersuchung der rheologischen Eigenschaften verdünnter Suspensionen von harten Kugeln mit einem Durchmesser von 100m in nicht-Newtonschen pseudoplastischen Flüssigkeiten werden mitgeteilt. Die Scherströmungseigenschaften der Suspensionen in einer Lösung von Polyisobutylen in Tetralin, in wäßrigen Lösungen von Polyacrylamid und Natriumcarboxymethylcellulose und in einer Newtonschen Flüssigkeit sind bei Festkörperkonzentrationen bis zu 10 Vol% untersucht worden. Es wurde ein konzentrisches Zylinderviskosimeter benutzt. Die Ergebnisse wurden in bezug auf Endeffekte und Schwankungen des Schergefälles über den Spalt korrigiert. Die Ergebnisse für die Newtonsche Flüssigkeit widersprechen veröffentlichten Daten nicht. Es ergab sich, daß innerhalb des Bereichs der untersuchten Variablen bei jeder der nicht-Newtonschen Flüssigkeiten die relative Viskosität bei einem Vergleich der Suspensionen mit der Grundflüssigkeit bei der gleichen Schubspannung nur konzentrationsabhängig war, während die relative Viskosität bei einem Vergleich der Suspension mit der Flüssigkeit bei dem gleichen Schergefälle sowohl von der Konzentration als auch vom Schergefälle abhing. Die teilweise Abnahme der Viskosität, die durch eine bestimmte Kugelkonzentration in einer Polyisobutylen-Lösung hervorgerufen wird, war ungefähr doppelt so hoch wie die, die sich bei gleicher Konzentration in allen anderen Flüssigkeiten einstellte. Bei den, wie wir glauben, erstmals veröffentlichten Messungen von Normalspannungen in Suspensionen, wurde die erste Normalspannungsdifferenz (P ₁₁-P ₁₂) für die Flüssigkeiten aus der Normalkraft abgeleitet, die auf dem Kegel eines Rheometers während einer konstanten Rotation ausgeübt wird. Über die durch experimentelle Schwierigkeiten begrenzten Bereiche von Konzentration und Schergefälle war das Verhältnis von Schergefälle zu Normalspannung der Suspension, geteilt durch die entsprechende Größe für die Grundlösung eine Funktion der Konzentration, nur wenn die Flüssigkeiten bei der gleichen Normalspannung verglichen wurden. Sie waren es nicht, wenn sie bei gleichem Schergefälle gegenübergestellt wurden. Diese Schlußfolgerung war weniger zuverlässig als das entsprechende Ergebnis für die relative Viskosität.

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Paper presented at the British Society of Rheology Conference on Advances in Rheology, Glasgow, September 16–18, 1969.     

Rheological properties of concentrated latex suspensions of poly(styrene-butadiene)

Concentrated suspensions of charged latex particles of poly(styrene-butadiene) have been used as model systems to investigate the influence of surface charges on the rheology of colloidal suspensions. The suspensions were found to behave as elastic solids at small strains and to require a finite stress to flow. This was related to an ordered structure of the suspensions at rest, resulting from electrostatic and van der Waals forces. Important shear-thinning effects were observed as a consequence of structure rearrangements under shear. At a fixed shear rate, the steady-shear viscosity as a function of the ionic strength exhibits a minimum. Under oscillatory shear flow, the behavior of the concentrated suspensions was found to be non-linear above a very small strain amplitude. The non-linear output signal from dynamic experiments was analyzed using a fast Fourier transform algorithm. A maximum in the third harmonic intensity as a function of the strain amplitude was observed and the intensity of higher harmonics decreased with increasing ionic strength. The behavior of the suspensions could be adequately described using the structural model of Yziquel et al. (Yziquel F, Carreau PJ, Moan M, Tanguy PA (1999) Rheological modeling of concentrated colloidal suspensions. J Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech 86:133–155).     

Rheological properties and dispersion stability of magnetorheological (MR) suspensions

In the present article, the rheological responses and dispersion stability of magnetorheological (MR) fluids were investigated experimentally. Suspensions of magnetite and carbonyl iron particles were prepared as model MR fluids. Under an external magnetic field (H ₀) and a steady shear flow, the yield stress depends upon H ₀ ^3/2. The Yield stress depended on the volume fraction of the particle (φ) linearly only at low concentration and increased faster at high fraction. Rheological behavior of MR fluids subjected to a small-strain oscillatory shear flow was investigated as a function of the strain amplitude, frequency, and the external magnetic field. In order to improve the stability of MR fluid, ferromagnetic Co-γ-Fe₂O₃ and CrO₂ particles were added as the stabilizing and thickening agent in the carbonyl iron suspension. Such needle-like particles seem to play a role in the steric repulsion between the relatively large carbonyl iron particles, resulting in improved stability against rapid sedimentation of dense iron particles. Furthermore, the additive-containing MR suspensions exhibited larger yield stress, especially at higher magnetic field strength. Received: 4 April 2000 Accepted: 6 November 2000     

Non-linear viscoelastic behavior of fumed silica suspensions

Suspensions of fumed silica exhibit a wide range of rheological properties depending on the nature and magnitude of the interparticle forces. In a non-polar fluid, the particles interact through hydrogen bonding and can form a three-dimensional network. The microstructure formation is responsible for the non-linear viscoelastic behavior of fumed silica suspensions, even at very small strain. These non-linear rheological properties have been studied in small amplitude oscillatory experiments as a function of particle size, surface treatment of particles, suspending medium polarity and solids concentration. The non-linear viscoelastic behavior is characterized by a non-sinusoidal waveform of the signal response. For suspensions in a non-polar fluid, both the elastic and the loss moduli are shown to be sensitive to the strain amplitude: the elastic modulus is decreasing with increasing strain whereas the loss moduli is initially increasing with strain. We have chosen to examine the dissipated energy which is clearly related to the breakup of the suspension structure. A comparison of model predictions and the experimental data shows the limitations of these models, recently proposed in the literature to describe the behavior of colloidal suspensions. Received: 9 March 1998 Accepted: 17 November 1998     

On the behavior of fine mud suspensions

Flows of natural mud-water mixtures are of great interest for industrial and civil engineering. But there is still no general agreement about the methods for determining the main rheological characteristics of these systems. We propose here an accurate rheological study of some natural mud-water mixtures. We first discuss the possible effects of changing various parameters such as temperature, pH, electrolyte concentration, solid concentration, clay type. The behavior of these muds appears to be very sensitive to most of these parameters and to be hardly predictable from a knowledge of their components. Then, we show that a Herschel-Bulkley model fits very well steady flow experimental data for a very large range of shear rates. We also suggest physical explanations of this model in agreement with our observations of behavior changes when some parameters change. The yield stress value of this model provides a good estimation of real yield stress which is a key parameter for mixture behavior. These considerations are very useful to characterize, predict, and compare various mud flows.     

Rheological equations of state of weakly concentrated suspensions of rigid ellipsoidal particles

Rheological equations of state of dilute suspensions of rigid ellipsoidal particles (ellipsoids of revolution) are derived [1–4] from the vantage point of the structural-continuum approach, with attention given both to rotational Brownian motion of particles and to their inertia and the outer force fields. Interaction between particles is ignored in those treatments given the low concentration of the suspended particles. In this paper, the earlier findings [1–4] are generalized to higher concentrations. The effect of hydrodynamical interaction between particles on the rheological behavior of the suspension is treated in the light of the Simha approach [5].Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 1, pp. 141–145, January–February, 1973.     

Rheological properties and percolation in suspensions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in polycarbonate

This paper is concerned with several issues related to the rheological behavior of polycarbonate/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites. The composites were prepared by diluting a masterbatch of 15 wt.% nanotubes using melt-mixing method, and the dispersion was analyzed by SEM, TEM, and AFM techniques. To understand the percolated structure, the nanocomposites were characterized via a set of rheological, electrical, and thermal conductivity measurements. The rheological measurements revealed that the structure and properties were temperature dependent; the percolation threshold was significantly lower at higher temperature suggesting stronger nanotube interactions. The nanotube networks were also sensitive to the steady shear deformation particularly at high temperature. Following preshearing, the elastic modulus decreased markedly suggesting that the nanotubes became more rigid. These results were analyzed using simple models for suspensions of rod-like particles. Finally, the rheological, electrical, and thermal conductivity percolation thresholds were compared. As expected, the rheological threshold was smaller than the thermal and electrical threshold.     

Rheological behavior of water-creosote and creosote-water emulsions

The effect of temperature on the steady-shear viscosity of two base emulsions (water-in-creosote (w/o) and creosote-in-water (o/w)) and a pigment emulsified creosote (PEC) was investigated. The PEC is a water-in-creosote emulsion which contains also a solid, micronised pigment, and is used industrially as a wood preservative. All three emulsions exhibited shear thinning characteristics at different temperatures. The viscosity-shear rate relationships follow a modified Quemada model. A temperature-superposition method using the reduced variables / and t _c was applied to yield a master plot for each of these emulsions at different temperatures. The effect of creosote concentration on the viscosity of four other o/w emulsions at different temperatures was also studied. The same reduced variables were able to produce a temperature-concentration superposition plot for all of the o/w emulsion results.The effective (average) radius of the globules (dispersed phase) was found to increase with increasing temperature for the base w/o and the PEC emulsion. The collision theory could be used to explain the increase in the droplet size. However, while little overall variation in globule size was observed for the o/w emulsions, microscopic observation indicated an increase in the proportion of large diameter droplets with temperature at the highest creosote concentration (60%). A creaming effect (phase concentration) was observed with these emulsions at higher temperatures, precluding an accurate estimate of droplet size based on collision theory.Seconded from Koppers Coal Tar Products, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.     

Rheological properties of paraffin suspensions of surface-modified alumina powder for low-pressure injection moulding

Due to the hygroscopic nature of fine alumina powders, the presence of water may have a detrimental effect on the rheological properties of a suspension in melted paraffin for low-pressure injection moulding (LPIM). For this reason, a modification of the powder surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic is essential for the production of high-quality moulded ceramics. In our paper, the efficiency of the application and the chemisorption of protective monomolecular layers of a long-chain carboxylic acid or its salts will be presented. The effect of the powder treatment on the shear viscosity and the viscoelastic properties of the suspensions for LPIM as well as on their stability in terms of the detrimental effect of water will be discussed.This paper was presented at the first Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC) held in Guimarães, Portugal, September 11-13, 2003.     

Rheological behavior of powder in a rotational viscometer

Summary The bahavior of granular materials in theMac Michael type viscometer was studied. The deflection angle of the bob decreased with the increase of the rate of rotation of the cup in the cases of these materials contrary to those of liquids. The powder bed in the gap of the viscometer is divided into twp cylindrical parts, the inner one with flowing layers of particles and the other moving with the cup as a bulk. The existence of these two parts is considered responsible for the extraordinary behavior of powder in the viscometer. The coefficient of kinetic friction of powder layers was obtained by applyingBenarie's analysis to our results.