Using a strain-controlled rheometer, the steady shear flow properties of aqueous xanthan gum solutions of different concentrations were measured over a wide range of shear rates. In this article, both the shear rate and concentration dependencies of steady shear flow behavior are reported from the experimentally obtained data. The viscous behavior is quantitatively discussed using a well-known power law type flow equation with a special emphasis on its importance in industrial processing and actual usage. In addition, several inelastic-viscoplastic flow models including a yield stress parameter are employed to make a quantitative evaluation of the steady shear flow behavior, and then the applicability of these models is also examined in detail. Finally, the elastic nature is explained with a brief comment on its practical significance. Main results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows: (1) Concentrated xanthan gum solutions exhibit a finite magnitude of yield stress. This may come from the fact that a large number of hydrogen bonds in the helix structure result in a stable configuration that can show a resistance to flow. (2) Concentrated xanthan gum solutions show a marked non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior which is well described by a power law flow equation and may be interpreted in terms of the conformational status of the polymer molecules under the influence of shear flow. This rheological feature enhances sensory qualities in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products and guarantees a high degree of mixability, pumpability, and pourability during their processing and/or actual use. (3) The Herschel-Bulkley, Mizrahi-Berk, and Heinz-Casson models are all applicable and have equivalent ability to describe the steady shear flow behavior of concentrated xanthan gum solutions, whereas both the Bingham and Casson models do not give a good applicability. (4) Concentrated xanthan gum solutions exhibit a quite important elastic flow behavior which acts as a significant factor for many industrial applications such as food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic manufacturing processes.

Rheology of concentrated xanthan gum solutions: Steady shear flow behavior

A waxy crude oil which gels below a threshold temperature has been investigated under static and dynamic conditions, using a combination of rheological methods, optical microscopy, and DSC. Particular attention is given in this work to the influence of the mechanical history on gel strength and to describing the time-dependent rheological behavior. The gels display a strong dependence of the yield stress and moduli on the shear history, cooling rate, and stress loading rate. Of particular interest is the partial recovery of the gel structure after application of small stress or strain (much smaller than the critical values needed for flow onset) during cooling, which can be used to reduce the ultimate strength of the crude oil gel formed below the pour point. A second focus of this study is to further develop the physical interpretation of the mechanism by which wax crystallization produces gelation. Gelation of the waxy crude oil studied is suggested to be the result of the association between wax crysta...

Rheological behavior and structural interpretation of waxy crude oil gels.

The “no-slip” is a fundamental assumption and generally-accepted boundary condition in rheology, tribology, and fluid mechanics with strong experimental support. The violations of this condition, however, are widely recognized in many situations, especially in the flow of non-Newtonian fluids. Wall slip could lead to large errors and flow instabilities, such as sharkskin formation and spurt flow, and hence complicates the analysis of fluid systems and introduces serious practical difficulties. In this article, we discuss slip at fluid-solid interface in an attempt to highlight the main issues related to this diverse complex phenomenon and its implications.

Slip at Fluid-Solid Interface

The linear viscoelastic and steady shear flow properties of high phase volume suspensions of a range of agar microgel particles have been measured and are found to depend upon the deformability (or modulus) of the particles. Agar concentrations in the range 0.5-5 wt % are utilized, giving a range of particle modulus spanning 2.4-185 kPa. On increasing the particle modulus, in suspensions with phase volumes above maximum packing, the storage modulus increases by two orders of magnitude although the loss tangent (tan delta) also increases due to increasing viscous dissipation. The flow properties of the suspensions at high shear stresses also showed significant differences due to changing particle rigidity. The suspensions containing the hardest particles are found to display limited evidence of shear-thickening behavior at high stresses, while those containing the softest particles continue to shear thin. A high-shear plateau in the viscosity is observed for suspensions with particles of medium rigidity. The suspensions containing the stiffer particles also have a considerably higher viscosity for the same degree of space filling. Empirical expressions linking the viscoelastic and flow properties to the particle modulus have been derived. (C) 2004 The Society of Rheology.

G.P. Roberts

Papers

Modelling the flow behaviour of very shear-thinning liquids