MRI Comparative Study of Container Geometry Impact on the PMMA Spheres Sedimentation

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging results are presented for the comparative study of sedimentation of the polymethylmethacrylate colloidal suspensions with spherical particle diameters of 475, 350 and 255 nm. The time evolution of the particle volume fraction in the sedimenting system, velocity of the fluid/suspension interface, interface broadening, and sediment growth velocity are measured against the system concentration as well as the container geometry. Using the experimental data the hindered settling function is evaluated. The influence of the container geometry on the parameters defining the hindered settling function in different approaches is evaluated for the first time. The limiting value of the particle diameter is estimated at which the container geometry has no impact any longer. This effect can be explained by the microscale structure persisting at low Peclet numbers. In addition, the influence of the container geometry on interface broadening and sediment formation for different particle diameters and volume fractions is studied. Spontaneous sediment packing induced by a modified container geometry has been found. NMR imaging has proven to be a highly efficient research tool for studying sedimentation at low Peclet numbers.