Papers by Keyword: Thixotropy

Abstract: We propose a methodology for the rheological characterization of semisolid metal slurries using experimental squeeze flow data. The material is modelled as a structural thixotropic viscoplastic material, obeying the regularized Herschel-Bulkley constitutive equation. The yield stress and the power-law exponent are assumed to vary with the structural parameter that is governed by a first-order kinetics. The squeeze flow is simulated using finite elements in a Lagrangian framework. The evolution of the sample height has been studied for all the ranges of the Bingham and Reynolds numbers, the power-law exponent as well as the kinetics parameters of the structural parameter. Systematic comparisons have been carried out with experimental data on a semisolid aluminium alloy (A356) sample, compressed from its topside at a temperature of 582 °C under a specified load, which eventually becomes constant. Excellent agreement with the experimental data could be achieved provided that at the initial instances (up to 0.01s) of the experiment the applied load is much higher than the nominal experimental load and that the yield stress and the power-law exponent vary linearly with the structural parameter. The first requirement implies that a different model should be employed during the initial stages of the experiment. As for the second one, the evolution of the sample height can be reproduced allowing the yield stress to vary from 0 (no structure) to a maximum nominal value (full structure) and the power-law exponent from 0.2 to 1.4.

Abstract: The paper investigates the effect of fillers on the viscosity properties of one-pack polyurethane sealants. It is noted that with the introduction of such mineral fillers as Mikarb, Midol, MTD2 chalk and aluminum hydroxide, the dynamic viscosity of the composition increases uniformly, while when filled with chemically precipitated Calofort SV chalk and MT-GShM talc, an abnormally sharp increase in viscosity is observed. Such an increase in viscosity for Calofort SV is explained by a highly developed surface, in contrast to other fillers. Talc is characterized by a plate-like shape of particles, which leads to a complex orientation of talc particles in the composition and shear difficulties.It was found that a sealant filled with chemically precipitated chalk has more than 100 pts. wt.(parts by weight), per 100 pts. wt. of the prepolymer under the influence of shear forces (at a constant shear rate) during the first 10 minutes of exposure, a sharp decrease in viscosity is observed, which is characteristic of thixotropic compositions, reaching a constant value after 5-10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the thixotropy of the sealant is restored. Talc does not impart thixotropic properties to the sealant composition.

Abstract: Study of rheological properties of concrete mixtures based on modified cement systems in order to determine process parameters. Methodology. To study structural-mechanical properties of modified concrete mixtures of different consistency at their horizontal vibrating displacement an oscillatory viscometer was designed. Results. The optimization of the process of vibration displacement of concrete mixtures with the specification of parameters of vibration impacts taking into account structural-mechanical properties of the mixture is performed. It has been established that the viscosity of the modified cement system of the concrete mixture is a variable quantity, which depends on the parameters of the vibration impacts. Scientific novelty. The mechanism of interaction of the modified concrete mixture with the form and the table vibrator during its vibration compaction is determined. On the basis of this, a model of concrete laying process control is proposed, that allows to predict the ability to form a dense concrete structure. Practical significance. Disclosed physical nature of the process of vibrating displacement of modified concrete mixtures using the principles of physical-chemical mechanics of concrete allows reasonably choose the best options for vibration impacts.

Abstract: The subject of this work is to investigate viscoelastic properties such as loss modulus (G ́ ́), storage modulus (G ́), complex shear modulus (G*), complex viscosity (η*) and loss angle () at different temperatures by means of a small-amplitude oscillatory test. These properties allow to provide information about materials structure. For this purpose, we employed a tin-lead alloy (Sn-15%Pb) which exhibits a similar microstructure to aluminum alloys and is the classic alloy for semisolid thixotropic studies. It is interesting to note that the Sn-15%Pb alloy exhibits a slightly decrease in storage modulus (G ́) over the entire frequency (0.01-10Hz) at high temperatures, showing its viscoelastic behavior. In addition, a detailed analysis of master curves (oscillatory tests) was made to relate the semisolid microstructure (solid fraction) with the plateau modulus (G_N⁰) which is directly related with both molecular weight or percolation threshold in polymer and gels science respectively.

Abstract: The influence of concentration of cement particles φ_c on rheological behavior (flow behavior, dynamic yield stress, plastic viscosity) and thixotropy of the Portland cement CEM I 42.5 R paste was investigated in this research. Also, thixotropy was evaluated by index of reversible structure of Portland cement paste. Concentration of cement particles φ_c ranged from 0.434 to 0.518. Investigation was carried out using rotational rheometer Rheotest RN4.1 with coaxial cylinders. The tests revealed that as φ_c decreases from 0.518 to 0.434, rheological behavior of Portland cement paste is improved: yield stress decreases from 12.7 Pa to 7.1 Pa as well as plastic viscosity – from 4.3 Pa·s to 0.88 Pa·s. The exponential correlation between φ_c and index of reversible structure of Portland cement paste was found. As φ_c decreases from 0.518 to 0.434, index of reversible structure of Portland cement paste, which describes a thixotropy, decreases from 5291 Pa·min to 977 Pa·min.

Abstract: Nail polish as a system used in cosmetics still faces stability issues. Pigment sedimentation and syneresis are the most common problems for solvent based systems. The scope of this research was to produce a working 'gel' dispersion for use as a suspension agent in nail polish systems. Various thixotropic agents (hectorite and bentonite clays and hydrophobic and hydrophilic silica grades) and methods (high shear homogenisation (HSH) and high pressure homogenisation (HPH)) were employed to affect this result. From the rheology results it is concluded, that the HPH ensures the development of the systems with the required viscosity recovery properties. It is also concluded that high shear developed systems with hydrophilic silica thixotropic agent are well suited for use as a suspension agent in nail polish formulations.

Abstract: Long-distance pumping of concrete (up to 2000 m, with relay pumps installed at two locations) was carried out for placing invert concrete at a caisson—the construction site of a spillway discharge section. After quantifying the required performance and determining of the mix proportions of the invert concrete that would be used in the long-distance pumping, the authors focused on thixotropy as a factor that affects the pumping load. Through laboratory tests and using AE and a high-range water reducing agent with high dispersion effect, retention and pumpability enhancing admixture were found to be effective in reducing thixotropy.

Abstract: Structured fluids are known to be dependable of their structural level. Examples of such fluids may be found in different industries as chemical, biomedical, manufacturing, food and oil. The mathematical models to describe structured fluids are normally composed by a coupled system: one constitutive equation (based on viscoelastic models) and one kinetics equation (an equation which describes the structural level evolution in time of the material). The works found in the literature use linear viscoelastic constitutive equations which do not account the dependence of the elastic modulus with the microstructural level in their fundamental hypothesis. In this sense, the present work aims to evaluate, through numerical simulation, the effect of a new constitutive equation in rheological tests and compare its results to those of the model developed by Souza Mendes and Thompson (2013), in which those considerations are not made.

Abstract: An essential element for the integration of a semisolid process in the production of complex commercial components is the availability of accurate mathematical and computational tools that could describe both the rheological behavior and the material characteristics of the suspension, which are strongly affected from its internal structure and its evolution during deformation. In this study we considered the squeeze flow experiment, which is a standard method used to determine material properties of semisolid slurries, where a fixed amount of material is compressed from its topside either under constant load or constant velocity, while the bottom side remains fixed. Through high fidelity computational modeling we simulated the classical compression experiment by including the effects of thixotropy in order to demonstrate its role in determining material constants. More specifically a structural viscoplastic model based on the Bingham plastic constitutive equation is proposed. The yield stress is assumed to vary linearly with the structural parameter which follows a first-order rate equation accounting for the material structure break-down and build-up. The development of the yielded/unyielded regions in relation to material structural changes is analyzed. Furthermore, we performed also simulations, where the compression is interrupted for a short time, in order to study the material internal structure after a short relaxation time.

Abstract: A series of experiments have been carried out to study on the efficiencies in solar energy materials and solar cells. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are good examples of where the quality of the nanomaterials and their interfacial properties are important to device performance. In this report, Nanometer TiO₂ sol for coating film was prepared by cooperating hydrothermal colloidal sol with organic polymer dispersing agent (PVA). Nanocrystalline TiO₂ porous films were prepared by using electro-hydrodynamic technique (EHD). The results show the films prepared by EHD technique have multilevel hierarchical structure, therefore, better optical scattering properties. Different constituent quasi-solid electrolytes with blood mimetic thixotropy were prepared by cooperating ionic liquid electrolyte with nanometer TiO₂ colloidal sol synthetized by sol-gel method. The resulting Quasi-Solid-State dye-sensitized solar cells consist of nanoporous TiO₂ Film and the dye N3, show conversion efficiencies up to 3.7 percent (8. 51 percent with a mask).