Schematic of SAXS setup showing degree of monodispersity with a TEM image of 360 nm particle suspension (lower right).
Scientific achievement
This study resolves a long-standing mystery as to why certain shear thickening fluids have an order-to-disorder transition while others do not, and explains the two different mechanisms responsible for this behavior.
Significance and impact
By separating the order-to-disorder transition occurring in a lower stress regime from the standard steady shear thickening occurring in a higher stress condition, this study proves the former is a strain-related behavior and the latter is a stress-driven behavior.
Research details
- Highly monodispersed colloidal fluids were created and exposed to both oscillatory and steady shear conditions.
- The Center for Nanoscale Material’s synthesis capabilities, rheometer and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used. High-resolution in situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was performed at the Advanced Photon Source.
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