Time periodic viscosity of concentrated kaolin suspensions at constant shear rates

Knowledge of the viscosity of concentrated suspensions is required for several technical applications, e.g. process control in mechanical engineering, casting of ceramics and pipeline transport of solids. Our previous viscometric investigations of concentrated suspensions showed, under particular shear conditions, an apparent viscosity that was periodic in time for a constant shear rate and temperature. These results were obtained with rotational viscometers with a set coaxial geometry. The inner cylinder was rigidly coupled to the viscometer driving axis. In this paper we describe a viscosity time behavior which was found using another type of coupling. Measurements were performed with rotational viscometers with a non-rigidly linked inner cylinder (small sample adapter supplied by Brookfield). Using kaolin suspensions of 30% solid mass content, viscosity oscillations appear. They show a regular time pattern at certain intervals of low shear rates. The amplitudes reach up to 20% of the viscosity mean value. In addition a motion of the inner cylinder away from the coaxial position is observed. This dislocation is followed by a relocation into the coaxial position. A maximum in the viscosity value is correlated with a maximum of the dislocation position. The process of dislocation and relocation of the inner cylinder is assumed to be caused by local anisotropically distributed inhomogeneities, which originate from shear-induced agglomeration and deglomeration of suspended particles. The motion of the inner cylinder is described by introducing a perturbation term into the equation of motion. The parameters of the perturbation term are fitted to the experimental data. Received: 10 September 1998 Accepted: 28 April 1999