Investigating the microstructure of a yield-stress fluid by light scattering

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2011 Mar;83(3 Pt 1):031401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.83.031401. Epub 2011 Mar 10.

Abstract

We report the results of an experimental study of the microstructure of dispersions of Carbopol ETD 2050, a model yield-stress fluid. Using two different light scattering instruments, measurements were made over three decades in scattering wave vector, from 0.02 to 25 μm⁻¹. These measurements reveal microstructure characterized by two length scales: a longer length scale, 6 μm and larger, that depends on Carbopol concentration and the pH of the dispersion and a shorter length scale of approximately 400 nm that is independent of both sample concentration and pH. We relate these results to shear rheology measurement of the yield stress of these materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Chemistry / methods
  • Emulsions
  • Equipment Design
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Light
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polyvinyls / chemistry*
  • Rheology
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Shear Strength
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Emulsions
  • Polyvinyls
  • carboxypolymethylene