On the nature of flow curve and categorization of thixotropic yield stress materials

Jacob, Alan R. (2023) On the nature of flow curve and categorization of thixotropic yield stress materials. Journal of Rheology, 67 (2). pp. 461-477. ISSN 0148-6055

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Abstract

Thixotropy is a phenomenon related to time dependent change in viscosity in the presence or absence of flow. The yield stress, on the other hand, represents the minimum value of stress above which steady flow can be sustained. In addition, the yield stress of a material may also change as a function of time. Both these characteristic features in a material strongly influence the steady state flow curve of the same. This study aims to understand the interrelation between thixotropy, yield stress, and their relation with the flow curve. In this regard, we study five thixotropic materials that show yield stress. The relaxation time of all the five systems shows power-law dependence on aging time with behaviors ranging from weaker than linear, linear to stronger than linear. Furthermore, the elastic modulus and yield stress have been observed to be constant for some systems while time dependent for the others. We also analyze the experimental behavior through a viscoelastic thixotropic structural kinetic model that predicts the observed experimental behavior of constant as well as time-dependent yield stress quite well. These findings indicate that a nonmonotonic steady-state flow curve in a structural kinetic formalism necessarily leads to time-dependent yield stress, while constant yield stress is predicted by a monotonic steady-state flow curve with stress plateau in the limit of low shear rates. The present work, therefore, shows that thixotropic materials may exhibit either monotonic or nonmonotonic flow curves. Consequently, thixotropic materials may show no yield stress, constant yield stress, or time-dependent yield stress.

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IITH Creators:

IITH Creators	ORCiD
Jacob, Alan R.	http://www.orcid.org/0000-0002-8168-3661

Item Type:

Article

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Yield stress; Flow categorization; Flow curves; Minimum value; Monotonics; Nonmonotonic; Steady-state flows; Stress(materials); Structural kinetics; Time dependent; Time-dependent changes; Shear flow; Steady flow

Subjects:

Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering > Technology of industrial chemicals

Divisions:

Department of Chemical Engineering

Depositing User:

Mr Nigam Prasad Bisoyi

Date Deposited:

25 Aug 2023 04:57

Last Modified:

25 Aug 2023 04:57

URI:

http://raiithold.iith.ac.in/id/eprint/11622