Thixotropy

Rheological profiling of organogels prepared at critical gelling concentrations of natural waxes in a triacylglycerol solvent

The aim of this study was to use a detailed rheological characterization to gain new insights into the gelation behavior of natural waxes. To make a comprehensive case, six natural waxes (differing in the relative proportion of chemical components: hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, and wax esters) were selected as organogelators to gel high-oleic sunflower oil. Flow and dynamic rheological properties of organogels prepared at critical gelling concentrations (Cg) of waxes were studied and compared using drag (stress ramp and steady flow) and oscillatory shear (stress and frequency sweeps) tests. Although, none of the organogels satisfied the rheological definition of a "strong gel" (G″/G' (ω) ≤ 0.1), on comparing the samples, the strongest gel (highest critical stress and dynamic, apparent, and static yield stresses) was obtained not with wax containing the highest proportion of wax esters alone (sunflower wax, SFW) but with wax containing wax esters along with a higher proportion of fatty alcohols (carnauba wax, CRW) although at a comparatively higher Cg (4%wt for latter compared to 0.5%wt for former). As expected, gel formation by waxes containing a high proportion of lower melting fatty acids (berry, BW, and fruit wax, FW) required a comparatively higher Cg (6 and 7%wt, respectively), and in addition, these gels showed the lowest values for plateau elastic modulus (G'LVR) and a prominent crossover point at higher frequency. The gelation temperatures (TG'=G″) for all the studied gels were lower than room temperature, except for SFW and CRW. The yielding-type behavior of gels was evident, with most gels showing strong shear sensitivity and a weak thixotropic recovery. The rheological behavior was combined with the results of thermal analysis and microstructure studies (optical, polarized, and cryo-scanning electron microscopy) to explain the gelation properties of these waxes.

A model for aging under deformation field, residual stresses and strains in soft glassy materials

A model is proposed that considers aging and rejuvenation in a soft glassy material as, respectively, a decrease and an increase in free energy. The aging term is weighted by an inverse of characteristic relaxation time suggesting that greater mobility of the constituents induces faster aging in a material. A dependence of relaxation time on free energy is proposed, which under quiescent conditions leads to a power law dependence of relaxation time on waiting time as observed experimentally. The model considers two cases, namely, a constant modulus when aging is entropy controlled and a time dependent modulus. In the former and the latter cases the model has, respectively, two and three experimentally measurable parameters that are physically meaningful. Overall, the model predicts how the material undergoes aging and approaches a rejuvenated state under the application of a deformation field. In particular, the model proposes distinctions between various kinds of rheological effects for different combinations of parameters. Interestingly, when the relaxation time evolution is stronger than linear, the model predicts various features observed in soft glassy materials such as thixotropic and constant yield stress, thixotropic shear banding, and the presence of residual stress and strain.

Dynamic hysteresis in the rheology of complex fluids

Recently, rheological hysteresis has been studied systematically in a wide range of complex fluids combining global rheology and time-resolved velocimetry. In this paper we present an analysis of the roles of the three most fundamental mechanisms in simple-yield-stress fluids: structure dynamics, viscoelastic response, and spatial flow heterogeneities, i.e., time-dependent shear bands. Dynamical hysteresis simulations are done analogously to rheological ramp-up and -down experiments on a coupled model which incorporates viscoelasticity and time-dependent structure evolution. Based on experimental data, a coupling between hysteresis measured from the local velocity profiles and that measured from the global flow curve has been suggested. According to the present model, even if transient shear banding appears during the shear ramps, in typical narrow-gap devices, only a small part of the hysteretic response can be attributed to heterogeneous flow. This results in decoupling of the hysteresis measured from the local velocity profiles and the global flow curve, demonstrating that for an arbitrary time-dependent rheological response this proposed coupling can be very weak.

A new water-soluble aromatic polyamide hydrogelator with thixotropic properties

The water-soluble aromatic polyamide poly(3-sodium sulfo-p-phenylene terephthalamide) forms a hydrogel with anisotropy, which exhibits good thixotropic behaviour, even at the critical gel concentration of the gelator (1.0 wt%).

Long-chain alkylamide-derived oil gels: mixing induced onset of thixotropy and application in sustained drug release

Oil gels composed of long-chain alkylamides exhibited thixotropic properties, although the same property was absent in each alkylamide.

Shear banding in soft glassy materials

Many soft materials, including microgels, dense colloidal emulsions, star polymers, dense packings of multilamellar vesicles, and textured morphologies of liquid crystals, share the basic 'glassy' features of structural disorder and metastability. These in turn give rise to several notable features in the low frequency shear rheology (deformation and flow properties) of these materials: in particular, the existence of a yield stress below which the material behaves like a solid, and above which it flows like a liquid. In the last decade, intense experimental activity has also revealed that these materials often display a phenomenon known as shear banding, in which the flow profile across the shear cell exhibits macroscopic bands of different viscosity. Two distinct classes of yield stress fluid have been identified: those in which the shear bands apparently persist permanently (for as long as the flow remains applied), and those in which banding arises only transiently during a process in which a steady flowing state is established out of an initial rest state (for example, in a shear startup or step stress experiment). Despite being technically transient, such bands may in practice persist for a very long time and so be mistaken for the true steady state response of the material in experimental practice. After surveying the motivating experimental data, we describe recent progress in addressing it theoretically, using the soft glassy rheology model and a simple fluidity model. We also briefly place these theoretical approaches in the context of others in the literature, including elasto-plastic models, shear transformation zone theories, and molecular dynamics simulations. We discuss finally some challenges that remain open to theory and experiment alike.

A comprehensive constitutive law for waxy crude oil: a thixotropic yield stress fluid

Guided by a series of discriminating rheometric tests, we develop a new constitutive model that can quantitatively predict the key rheological features of waxy crude oils. We first develop a series of model crude oils, which are characterized by a complex thixotropic and yielding behavior that strongly depends on the shear history of the sample. We then outline the development of an appropriate preparation protocol for carrying out rheological measurements, to ensure consistent and reproducible initial conditions. We use RheoPIV measurements of the local kinematics within the fluid under imposed deformations in order to validate the selection of a particular protocol. Velocimetric measurements are also used to document the presence of material instabilities within the model crude oil under conditions of imposed steady shearing. These instabilities are a result of the underlying non-monotonic steady flow curve of the material. Three distinct deformation histories are then used to probe the material's constitutive response. These deformations are steady shear, transient response to startup of steady shear with different aging times, and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). The material response to these three different flows is used to motivate the development of an appropriate constitutive model. This model (termed the IKH model) is based on a framework adopted from plasticity theory and implements an additive strain decomposition into characteristic reversible (elastic) and irreversible (plastic) contributions, coupled with the physical processes of isotropic and kinematic hardening. Comparisons of experimental to simulated response for all three flows show good quantitative agreement, validating the chosen approach for developing constitutive models for this class of materials.

Rheology dynamics of aggregating colloidal suspensions

We study a colloidal model based on population balances in the context of complex fluid rheology. Two typical particle microstructure kinetics, orthokinetic, collisions due to shear, and perikinetic, collisions due to Brownian motion, are found to appear at continuum as different flow behaviors - those having monotonic and non-monotonic flow curves, respectively. Solving the colloidal model together with the 1D Stokes equation for laminar, incompressible flow with Couette boundary conditions, allows bridging the gap between the rheological experiments and the microstructural modeling. The analysis of such a model reveals that orthokinetic particle suspensions have a uniquely defined, continuous steady state shear profile, whereas suspensions in which also perikinetic collisions are present, the steady state can be shear banded and non-unique. Thus, the shear banded configurations at a steady state are found to depend on the initial conditions and the collision kinetics of the system. At high shear rates all the studied cases show continuous shear profiles.

Dynamics of colloidal glasses and gels

Many household and industrially important soft colloidal materials, such as pastes, concentrated suspensions and emulsions, foams, slurries, inks, and paints, are very viscous and do not flow over practical timescales until sufficient stress is applied. This behavior originates from restricted mobility of the constituents arrested in disordered structures of varying length scales, termed colloidal glasses and gels. Usually these materials are thermodynamically out of equilibrium, which induces a time-dependent evolution of the structure and the properties. This review presents an overview of the rheological behavior of this class of materials. We discuss the experimental observations and theoretical developments regarding the microstructure of these materials, emphasizing the complex coupling between the deformation field and nonequilibrium structures in colloidal glasses and gels, which leads to a rich array of rheological behaviors with profound implications for various industrial processes and products.

N-Alkylamido-d-glucamine-based gelators for the generation of thixotropic gels

Hydrogels made from new gelators exhibit thixotropic properties, whereas hydrogels formed with structurally similar N-alkyl-d-glucamide have a tendency to crystallize.

Onset of mixing-induced thixotropy in hydrogels by mixing two homologues of low-molecular-weight hydrogelators

We determined the onset of thixotropy in hydrogels when two homologues of low-molecular-weight hydrogelators, N-alkyl-d-glucamides (CnNG), were mixed.

Creation of thixotropic multicomponent alkylamide organogels containing non-volatile oil as potential drug release host materials

Multicomponent alkylamide organogels containing non-volatile oils were generated as potential thixotropic host materials for medicinal applications such as ointments.

Minimal model for zero-inertia instabilities in shear-dominated non-Newtonian flows

The emergence of fluid instabilities in the relevant limit of vanishing fluid inertia (i.e., arbitrarily close to zero Reynolds number) has been investigated for the well-known Kolmogorov flow. The finite-time shear-induced order-disorder transition of the non-Newtonian microstructure and the corresponding viscosity change from lower to higher values are the crucial ingredients for the instabilities to emerge. The finite-time low-to-high viscosity change for increasing shear characterizes the rheopectic fluids. The instability does not emerge in shear-thinning or -thickening fluids where viscosity adjustment to local shear occurs instantaneously. The lack of instabilities arbitrarily close to zero Reynolds number is also observed for thixotropic fluids, in spite of the fact that the viscosity adjustment time to shear is finite as in rheopectic fluids. Renormalized perturbative expansions (multiple-scale expansions), energy-based arguments (on the linearized equations of motion), and numerical results (of suitable eigenvalue problems from the linear stability analysis) are the main tools leading to our conclusions. Our findings may have important consequences in all situations where purely hydrodynamic fluid instabilities or mixing are inhibited due to negligible inertia, as in microfluidic applications. To trigger mixing in these situations, suitable (not necessarily viscoelastic) non-Newtonian fluid solutions appear as a valid answer. Our results open interesting questions and challenges in the field of smart (fluid) materials.

Rheological characterisation of municipal sludge: a review

Sustainable sludge management is becoming a major issue for wastewater treatment plants due to increasing urban populations and tightening environmental regulations for conventional sludge disposal methods. To address this problem, a good understanding of sludge behaviour is vital to improve and optimize the current state of wastewater treatment operations. This paper provides a review of the recent experimental works in order for researchers to be able to develop a reliable characterization technique for measuring the important properties of sludge such as viscosity, yield stress, thixotropy, and viscoelasticity and to better understand the impact of solids concentrations, temperature, and water content on these properties. In this context, choosing the appropriate rheological model and rheometer is also important.

Recent expansions in an emergent novel drug delivery technology: Emulgel

Emulgel is an emerging topical drug delivery system to which if more effort is paid towards its formulation & development with more number of topically effective drugs it will prove a boon for derma care & cosmetology. Emulgels are either emulsion of oil in water or water in oil type, which is gelled by mixing it with gelling agent. Incorporation of emulsion into gel increases its stability & makes it a dual control release system. Due to lack of excess oily bases & insoluble excipients, it shows better drug release as compared to other topical drug delivery system. Presence of gel phase makes it a non greasy & favors good patient compliance. These reviews give knowledge about Emulgel including its properties, advantages, formulation considerations, and its recent advances in research field. All factors such as selection of gelling agent, oil agent, emulsifiers influencing the stability and efficacy of Emulgel are discussed. All justifications are described in accordance with the research work carried out by various scientists. These brief reviews on formulation method have been included. Current research works that carried out on Emulgel are also discussed and highlighted the wide utility of Emulgel in topical drug delivery system. After the vast study, it can be concluded that the Emulgels appear better & effective drug delivery system as compared to other topical drug delivery system. The comprehensive analysis of rheological and release properties will provide an insight into the potential usage of Emulgel formulation as drug delivery system.

Unconventional dynamic hysteresis in a periodic assembly of paramagnetic colloids

Dynamic hysteresis phenomena are widespread in physical sciences and describe the complex behavior of systems driven out of equilibrium by a periodic forcing. We use here paramagnetic colloids above a stripe-patterned garnet film as the model system to study dynamic hysteresis, the latter induced when the particles are periodically translated by an oscillating magnetic field. In contrast to the expected behavior for a bistable system, we observe that the area of the hysteresis loop decreases by increasing the driving frequency and reduces to zero for frequencies higher than 5-7s(-1). To explain the experimental results, we develop a simple model based on an overdamped Brownian particle driven by a periodic potential with an oscillating amplitude.

Physicochemical Characterization and in vivo Skin Performance of a Novel Alkyl Polyglucoside Emulsifier in Natural Cosmetic Cream-Bases

Alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) are a perfect amphiphilic structure, with excellent surface activity and solubility feature. The aim of this study is to develop a simple system, with a relatively low emulsifier content, composed of materials mainly naturally based and with no additional fatty alcohol. Hydroxystearyl alcohol and Hydroxystearyl glucoside, prepared with Jojoba and Hazelnut oil, medium chain triglycerides with or without Xylitylglucoside and Anhydroxylitol and Xylitol, have been investigated by using microscopy, rheology, thermal analysis, pH and conductimetry. Cyclic stress and in vivo skin irritation tests were also conducted. The investigated natural APG emulsifier has a capacity to form simple and stable emulsions of desirable rheological profile with improved hydration potential and to renew damaged skin, thus it can be safely applied as stabilizer in cosmetic and prospective pharmaceutical cream-bases.

Transient shear banding in time-dependent fluids

We study the dynamics of shear-band formation and evolution using a simple rheological model. The description couples the local structure and viscosity to the applied shear stress. We consider in detail the Couette geometry, where the model is solved iteratively with the Navier-Stokes equation to obtain the time evolution of the local velocity and viscosity fields. It is found that the underlying reason for dynamic effects is the nonhomogeneous shear distribution, which is amplified due to a positive feedback between the flow field and the viscosity response of the shear thinning fluid. This offers a simple explanation for the recent observations of transient shear banding in time-dependent fluids. Extensions to more complicated rheological systems are considered.

Rheological hysteresis in soft glassy materials

The nonlinear rheology of a soft glassy material is captured by its constitutive relation, shear stress versus shear rate, which is most generally obtained by sweeping up or down the shear rate over a finite temporal window. For a huge amount of complex fluids, the up and down sweeps do not superimpose and define a rheological hysteresis loop. By means of extensive rheometry coupled to time-resolved velocimetry, we unravel the local scenario involved in rheological hysteresis for various types of well-studied soft materials. We introduce two observables that quantify the hysteresis in macroscopic rheology and local velocimetry, respectively, as a function of the sweep rate δt(-1). Strikingly, both observables present a robust maximum with δt, which defines a single material-dependent time scale that grows continuously from vanishingly small values in simple yield stress fluids to large values for strongly time-dependent materials. In line with recent theoretical arguments, these experimental results hint at a universal time scale-based framework for soft glassy materials, where inhomogeneous flows characterized by shear bands and/or pluglike flow play a central role.