Particle dispersibility and giant reduction in dynamic modulus of magnetic gels containing barium ferrite and iron oxide particles

The particle dispersibility of barium ferrite and iron oxide magnetic particles in carrageenan gels was investigated, and the influence of the dispersibility on the giant reduction in the dynamic modulus of the gels was discussed. The gels containing barium ferrite demonstrated giant reductions in the storage Young's modulus on the order of 10 (5) Pa due to magnetization; however, small reductions in the storage modulus of less than 10 (4) Pa were observed for the gels containing iron oxide. The storage modulus of gels with barium ferrite did not follow the Krieger-Dougherty equation above volume fractions of 0.06, indicating the heterogeneous dispersion of the magnetic particles; however, the modulus of the gels with iron oxide satisfied the equation at all volume fractions, suggesting the random dispersion of the particles. It was noted that the gels with barium ferrite demonstrated enhanced nonlinear viscoelasticity and a large value of the loss tangent, while the gels with iron oxide exhibited weak nonlinear viscoelasticity and a small value of the loss tangent. Magnetic measurements indicated high values of remanent magnetization for barium ferrite and low values for iron oxide. After magnetization at 1 T, the magnetic gels with barium ferrite became elongated parallel to the magnetic field and shrunk perpendicular to the field. In contrast, the magnetic gels with iron oxide did not undergo a marked deformation. These results strongly indicate that the giant reduction in the storage modulus requires both enhanced nonlinear viscoelasticity and magnetostriction which originate from the particle dispersibility. The relationship between the dispersibility of magnetic particles and the giant reduction in the storage modulus is discussed using rheological and morphological data.     

Giant Complex Modulus Reduction of κ‐Carrageenan Magnetic Gels

Summary: Effects of magnetization on the complex modulus of κ‐carrageenan magnetic gels have been investigated. The magnetic gel was made of a natural polymer, κ‐carrageenan, and a ferromagnetic particle, barium ferrite. The complex modulus of the magnetic gel was investigated by dynamic viscoelastic measurements with a compressional strain. It was first observed that the magnetic gels showed giant storage modulus reduction ≈10⁷ Pa before and after magnetization. The reduction was nearly independent of the frequency, and it increased with increasing the volume fraction of the ferrite. The maximum reduction in the storage modulus reached 14.9 MPa which corresponds to 76.5% of the modulus before magnetization. It was also found that the change in the modulus was nearly independent of a magnetization direction. Magnetism and morphology of the magnetic gels were also presented.

Strain dependence of the storage modulus at 1 Hz for κ‐carrageenan gel (□) and its magnetic gel before (○) and after (•) magnetization (ϕ = 0.39). The geometry of magnetization and strain directions is perpendicular.     

Anisotropy in Longitudinal Modulus of Polymer Gels Containing Ferrite

The effects of magnetization direction on the longitudinal modulus of magnetic gels, which consist of magnetized barium ferrite and poly(vinyl alcohol), have been investigated using 10 MHz ultrasonic waves. The modulus change due to magnetization depends on both the crosslinking density and magnetization direction. The modulus change increased and decreased when the strain direction was perpendicular and parallel to magnetization, respectively.     

Photochemical control of network structure in gels and photo-induced changes in their viscoelastic properties

Poly(amide acid) gels containing photosensitive azobenzene groups in the main chain have been synthesized and their viscoelastic properties before and after light irradiation have been investigated by dynamic viscoelasticity measurements. It was found that 405 nm light induced a local volume change and a two-fold increase in the storage modulus of the gels. We discuss the change in storage modulus upon light irradiation quite simply in terms of classical rubber elasticity theory, which cannot explain this large increase in storage modulus. The photo-induced increase in storage modulus may result from an increase in entanglement interactions of topological constraints fixed in the network structure, caused by photoisomerization of the azobenzene moieties. We suggest that topological constraints in the network structure of the gels were realized by light irradiation and calculate the resulting slip link ratio (index of the topological constraints) in the gel network.     

Large amplitude oscillatory shear studies on the strain-stiffening behavior of gelatin gels

Linear and nonlinear viscoelasticity of gelatin solutions was investigated by rheology. The dynamic mechanical properties during the sol-gel transition of gelatin followed the time-cure superposition. The fractal dimension df of the critical gel was estimated as 1.76, which indicated a loose network. A high sol fraction ws = 0.61 was evaluated from the plateau modulus by semi-empirical models. Strain-stiffening behavior was observed under large amplitude oscillatory shear(LAOS) for the gelatin gel. The strain and frequency dependence of the minimum strain modulus GM, energy dissipation Ed, and nonlinear viscoelastic parameter NE was illustrated in Pipkin diagrams and explained by the strain induced helix formation reported previously by others. The BST model described the strain-stiffening behavior of gelatin gel quite well, whereas the Gent and worm-like chain network models overestimated the strain-stiffening at large strains.     

Electroacoustics of particles dispersed in polymer gel

This study examines the electroacoustics of particles dispersed in polymer hydrogels, with the particle size either less than or greater than the gel mesh size. When the particles are smaller than the gel mesh size, their acoustic vibration is resisted by only the background water medium, and the measured dynamic electrophoretic mobility, μ(d) (obtained in terms of colloid vibration current, CVI), is the same as that in water. For the case of particles larger than the gel mesh size, μ(d) is decreased due to trapping, and the net decrease depends on the viscoelastic properties of the gel. The gel mesh size was varied by varying its cross-link density, with the latter being characterized as the storage modulus, G'. The dependence of mobility on G', for systems of a given particle size, and on particle size, for gels of a given G', are investigated. The measured mobility remains constant as G' is increased (i.e., mesh size is decreased) up to a value of approximately 300 Pa, beyond which it decreases. In the second set of measurements, the trapped particle size was increased in a gel medium of constant mesh size, with G' being approximately 100 Pa. In this case, the measured μ(d) is found to be effectively constant over the particle size range studied (14-120 nm); that is, it is independent of the degree of trapping as expressed by the ratio of the particle size to the mesh size.     

The evolution of viscoelasticity near the gel point of end-linking poly(dimethylsiloxane)s

The linear viscoelasticity of polymers near the gel point can be described by two scaling laws. The material at the gel point has a power-law linear viscoelastic relaxation modulus, and the relaxation exponent has been found to vary with the composition of the precursor materials, i.e., it is not universal for gelation. A second scaling law describes the evolution of the linear viscoelastic properties through the gel point. The rate of change of the dynamic mechanical modulus/viscosity is observed to scale as a power-law function of frequency. This power-law function defines a dynamic critical exponent, and this has been found to be independent of precursor composition for end-linking poly(dimethylsiloxane) polymers and equal to κ = 0.21 ± 0.02. This exponent may be a universal measure of gelation. The technique of Time Resolved Mechanical Spectroscopy is used to observe the evolution of linear viscoelastic properties of crosslinking polymers in situ in the rheometer. A stretched exponential relaxation modulus describes the evolution of mechanical properties in the vicinity of the gel point very well. The exponents which characterize the divergence of the zero-shear viscosity and the equilibrium modulus are not universal, since they are related to the relaxation exponent and the dynamic critical exponent.     

Strain hardening and fracture of heat-set fractal globular protein gels

Non-linear mechanical behavior at large shear deformation was been investigated for heat-set beta-lactoglobulin gels at pH 7 and 0.1 M NaCl using both oscillatory shear and shear flow. These gels have a self-similar structure at length scales smaller than the correlation length of the gel with fractal dimension d(f)=2. Strain hardening is observed that can be well described using the model proposed by Gisler et al. [T.C. Gisler, R.C. Ball, D.A. Weitz, Phys. Rev. Let. 82 (1999) 1064] for fractal colloidal gels. The increase of the shear modulus normalized by the low strain value (G(0)) is independent of G(0). For weak gels the elasticity increases up to a factor of ten, while for strong gels the increase is very small. At higher deformation irreversible fracture occurs, which leads eventually to macroscopic failure of the gel. For weak gels formed at low concentrations the deformation at failure is about 2, independent of the shear modulus. For strong gels fracture occurs at approximately constant stress (2 x 10(3) Pa).     

Nonlinear viscoelasticity, percolation and particles dispersibility of PVA/aluminum hydroxide composite gels

We investigated the rheological properties of a composite gel consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) and aluminum hydroxide particles, and discussed the relation among nonlinear viscoelasticity, percolation and particles dispersibility. The dynamic viscoelastic measurements revealed that the storage modulus at volume fractions ? < 0.04 satisfied with the Krieger-Dougherty equation representing random dispersion of particles. The storage modulus did not show any nonlinear viscoelastic response at ? < 0.04. However, the storage modulus at ? > 0.06 took a value which is far larger than that expected by the equation, indicating heterogeneous distribution of particles. Additionally, the nonlinear viscoelastic response was recognized clearly at ? > 0.06, suggesting a partial contact between particles. The storage modulus at ? > 0.18 showed a further increase satisfied with the percolation theory, therefore, the volume fraction is considered to be the percolation threshold of 3-dimension. Microscopic observations of the gel showed a clear network with a mesh size of few μm that is considered to be a partial network of particles.     

Viscoelastic properties of adsorbed and cross-linked polypeptide and protein layers at a solid-liquid interface

The real-time changes in viscoelasticity of adsorbed poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and adsorbed histone (lysine rich fraction) due to cross-linking by glutaraldehyde and corresponding release of associated water were investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FTIR). The kinetics of PLL and histone adsorption were measured through changes in mass adsorbed onto a gold-coated quartz surface from changes in frequency and dissipation and using the Voigt viscoelastic model. Prior to cross-linking, the shear viscosity and shear modulus of the adsorbed PLL layer were approximately 3.0 x 10(-3) Pas and approximately 2.5 x 10(5) Pa, respectively, while after cross-linking, they increased to approximately 17.5 x 10(-3) Pas and approximately 2.5 x 10(6) Pa, respectively. For the adsorbed histone layer, shear viscosity and shear modulus increased modestly from approximately 1.3 x 10(-3) to approximately 2.0 x 10(-3) Pas and from approximately 1.2 x 10(4) to approximately 1.6 x 10(4) Pa, respectively. The adsorbed mass estimated from the Sauerbrey equation (perfectly elastic) and the Voigt viscoelastic model differ appreciably prior to cross-linking whereas after cross-linking they converged. This is because trapped water molecules were released during cross-linking. This was confirmed experimentally via ATR/FTIR measurements. The variation in viscoelastic properties increased substantially after cross-linking presumably due to fluctuation of the randomly cross-linked network structure. An increase in fluctuation of the viscoelastic properties and the loss of imbibed water could be used as a signature of the formation of a cross-linked network and the amount of cross-linking, respectively.     

一种产碱杆菌胞外多糖动态粘弹性研究

对产碱杆菌Q9415胞外多糖 (Curvielan)的动态粘弹性进行了研究 .在角频率ω =0 0 1～ 10 0rad·s-1范围内 ,1 4% (W /V ,下同 )curvielan的储能模量G′始终远远大于耗能模量G″并且不依赖于频率 ,表明curvielan弹性极佳并相当稳定 .0 5 %可能接近curvielan形成水凝胶的阈值浓度 .Curvielan易溶于冷水形成有粘弹性的弱凝胶 ,在 90℃左右保温 10min左右 ,弱凝胶可形成粘弹性更高的凝胶 ,长时间的高温加热及冷冻 熔融处理会破坏curvielan的凝胶网络结构 ,酸碱均降低curvielan形成凝胶网络的能力 .添加 1～ 18%NaCl,对1%curvielan的凝胶网络有一定的损害 ,添加 6 %KCl、CaCl2 、MgCl2 、ZnCl2 、2 0 %和 40 %蔗糖有类似影响 ,但6 %的AlCl3 或FeCl3 均使 1%curvielan的粘弹性完全丧失 .     

The rheological study of the interaction between alkali metal ions and kappa-carrageenan gels

The rheological change in kappa-carrageenan and agarose gels immersed in alkali metal salt solution was studied by the measurement of longitudinal vibrations. The storage modulus of kappa-carrageenan gel increased remarkably by the immersion, while that of agarose gel did not change so much. The reason of this change in kappa-carrageenan was ascribed to the shielding effect of the electrostatic repulsion of sulfate groups by alkali metal ions. As a result of the shielding, the helical structure was thought to become the densely packed state. The difference of the action between the two groups (Li⁺, Na⁺) and (K⁺, Cs⁺) was discussed from the viewpoint that these ions are either structure makers or breakers for the structure of water.     

Gel kinetic characteristics and creep behavior of polymer microspheres based on bulk gel

Abstract

Deep profile control technology of polymer microspheres has become a widely used new method in improving oil recovery in heterogeneous reservoirs. The viscoelastic property of polymer microspheres plays an important role in the deformable migration behavior. In this study, a new method of measuring the viscoelastic properties of polymer microspheres based on bulk gel was proposed. Using mechanical rheometer and microrheometer, the effects on the storage modulus and gel performance were systematically researched. The creep-recovery test was applied to characterize the creep behavior of different polymer microsphere bulk gel. The results show that the storage modulus of polymer microspheres could be controlled by adjusting the agent concentration in the synthetic reaction. Moreover, the kinetic equation of gel time of polymer microspheres bulk gel and reaction temperature was established: ln(GT)?=?3289.18(1/T)-9.33. Elastic strain index was put forward as a new parameter to characterize the viscoelasticity of polymer microsphere in creep-recovery test. Finally, relationship between elastic strain index and storage modulus was constructed and a classification criterion of polymer microspheres with different viscoelasticity was proposed based on a large number of creep-recovery results. The research could provide a good theoretical guidance and technical support for the understanding of viscoelasticity of polymer microspheres.     

Nanoindentation creep of nonlinear viscoelastic polypropylene

Uniaxial tensile creep tests at various applied stresses were carried out to demonstrate that PP is nonlinear viscoelastic. A novel phenomenological model consisting of springs, dashpots, stress-locks and sliders was proposed to describe the nonlinear viscoelasticity. Indentation creep tests at different applied load levels were also performed on nonlinear viscoelastic PP. It was found that the shear creep compliance varies with the applied load level when the applied load is less than 5 mN, which means the indentation creep behavior was nonlinear. To find the real reason for the nonlinearity in indentation creep tests, the elastic modulus at various indentation depths was measured using continuous stiffness measurements (CSM). By analyzing the variation of elastic modulus with indentation depth, the nonlinearity of indentation creep behavior was proved to be caused by the non-uniform properties in the surface of the specimen rather than nonlinear viscoelasticity.     

C12NBr对黄原胶/Cr(Ⅲ)凝胶体系粘弹性的影响

以三价铬离子（Cr3＋,Cr(Ⅲ)）为交联剂制备的黄原酸(XC)凝胶在油田开发过程中具有许多用途,应用RS 75型流变仪测定了含有和不含有阳离子表面活性剂C12NBr (十二烷基-氧丙基-β-羟基-三甲基溴化铵)时凝胶体系粘弹性的变化规律.结果表明,XC凝胶体系不符合理想的线性粘弹性模型,储能模量（G′）和耗能模量（G″）在切力较低时变化甚微,切力较高时两者皆降低,但降低的幅度不同,因而G′～τ（应力）和G″～τ曲线出现交点,此交点随C12NBr浓度增大而降低.结合等温线的研究表明,C12NBr能结合到XC分子上,破坏凝胶的网络结构.然而,在一定条件下其复合粘度（η*）随频率和切力的变化出现最低值现象的机理还有待进一步探讨.     

利用大幅振荡剪切研究Laponite 凝胶的流变性质

通过大幅振荡剪切(LAOS)流变学方法, 研究了NaCl浓度对Laponite悬浮体系的结构及非线性黏弹性的影响. 在线性黏弹性区, Laponite体系的储能模量G′随着NaCl浓度的增加而逐渐增大. 体系的非线性黏弹性用响应应力的Fourier变换三次谐波的相对振幅I_3/1与Lissajous曲线的定量参数G_M, G_L, η_M和η_L描述. 当NaCl浓度较低时, I_3/1随应变振幅γ₀的增加而缓慢增加; 当NaCl浓度较高时, I_3/1随γ₀的增加迅速增大, 达到平台值. 不同NaCl浓度试样的G_M和G_L随γ₀变化的曲线区别不大, 但η_M和η_L随γ₀变化曲线在非线性区域出现峰值且区别较大. NaCl浓度越高, η_M和η_L出现峰值的γ₀越小, 峰值越大. 结果表明, Laponite凝胶的非线性黏弹性与凝胶网络结构有关, 随着NaCl浓度的增加, 粒子间的静电相互作用距离缩短, 粒子间距减小, 形成了更紧密的网络结构. 但这种网络在较大的应变下很容易被破坏, 出现非线性黏弹性.     

Effects of magnetite nanoparticles on the thermorheological properties of carrageenan hydrogels

The influence of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanoparticles on the rheological properties of kappa-, iota- and lambda-carrageenan gels has been investigated. Small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements were performed to study the effect of the presence of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles with particle sizes of ca. 10 nm on the gel properties, as a function of carrageenan type, carrageenan concentration and magnetite load. The formation of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles on the presence of biopolymer was observed to promote the gelation process and lead to stronger gels as indicated by an increase in the gel viscoelastic moduli and of the gelation temperature. This effect was more marked for kappa-carrageenan than for iota- and lambda-carrageenan and has been proposed to depend not only on Fe(3)O(4) concentration but also on the concentration of potassium ions. A mechanism based on the combined effect of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles and potassium ions was suggested, involving the adsorption of potassium ions on the negatively charged surface of the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles, thus leading to an increase of the potassium ion concentration within the "carrageenan cages" containing the magnetite. This would, therefore, promote more extensive biopolymer helical aggregation, thus resulting in the formation of a stronger kappa-carrageenan gel in the presence of Fe(3)O(4), as observed. Since iota- and lambda-carrageenan gels are known to be less sensitive to potassium ions concentration, the effect of precipitating Fe(3)O(4) within these biopolymers is reduced.     

NEPE推进剂固化交联的流变学研究

采用动态流变学方法研究了硝酸酯增塑聚醚(NEPE)推进剂的固化历程. 结果表明, 推进剂固化初期(黏流态)的储能模量(G′)和损耗模量(G″)随时间增加缓慢增大, G′gel)缩短, 但推进剂在凝胶点和固化结束时的储能模量G′_gel(622~781 Pa)和G′_∞(831.1×10³~868.3×10³ Pa)的变化不大. 推进剂在固化初期(反应控制阶段)符合一级反应动力学关系, 推进剂的固化过程符合Hsich动力学模型, 由反应速率常数(k_c)、凝胶时间(t_gel)和特征松弛时间(τ)得到推进剂的表观反应活化能ΔE_c, ΔE_g和ΔE_τ分别为129.6, 122.1和120.6 kJ/mol.     

Nanocomposite ion gels based on silica nanoparticles and an ionic liquid: ionic transport, viscoelastic properties, and microstructure

The dispersion of silica nanoparticles made an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ([C(2)mim][NTf(2)]), gelled even by the addition of 2-3 wt %, due to the formation of interconnected particulate silica networks in [C(2)mim][NTf(2)]. The ionic transport and viscoelastic properties of these nanocomposite ion gels were investigated in relation to the microstructure. Despite their solid-like behavior, the nanocomposite ion gels exhibited a high ionic conductivity of approximately 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 30 degrees C, which is comparable to that of neat [C(2)mim][NTf(2)]. Intriguing viscoelastic responses, such as shear-thinning and shear-induced sol-gel transitions, were found in all of the nanocomposite ion gels. By adjusting the silica concentration, the elastic modulus ( G') could be precisely controlled in a range of more than 3 orders of magnitude and reached approximately 10(6) Pa without a considerable decrease in the ionic conductivity; the characteristic viscoelastic response was also maintained. For the aggregation mechanism in [C 2 mim][NTf(2)], the reaction-limited cluster aggregation (RLCA) model was proposed by rheology and light scattering measurements.     

Investigation of Rheological Properties of Polyacrylamide/Chromium Triacetate Hydrogels Performed for Water Shutoff Treatment in Oil Reservoirs

In this research, polyacrylamide-based gels were made at 25°C and aged in an oven at 90°C for 24 hours. The bottle testing results indicated that gel composed of 15000 ppm partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) and 2500 ppm chromium(III) acetate exhibited an acceptable strength. The strain sweep test results showed that elastic modulus is fixed on 6 Pa below strain of 100%. According to frequency test results, linear viscoelasticity region was observed at the frequency limits from 0.1 to 10 s^?1. Moreover, elastic modulus decreased from 8 Pa at 25°C to 4 Pa at 90°C. Furthermore, gelation time for gelant with the same composition was obtained (14, 13, and 20 minutes) in sequence.