Modeling the viscosity and aggregation of suspensions of highly anisotropic nanoparticles

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2012 Jan;35(1):6. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2012-12006-1. Epub 2012 Jan 26.

Abstract

The rheology of nanofiber suspensions is studied solving numerically the Population Balance Equations (PBE). To account for the anisotropic nature of nanofibers, a relation is proposed for their hydrodynamic volume. The suspension viscosity is calculated using the computed aggregate size distributions together with the Krieger-Dougherty constitutive equation. The model is fitted to experimental flow curves for Carbon NanoFibers (CNF) and for NanoFibrillated Cellulose (NFC), giving a first estimation of the microscopic anisotropy parameter, and yielding information on the structural properties and rheology of each system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy*
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Cellulose / chemistry
  • Computer Simulation
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Rheology
  • Suspensions / chemistry*
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Suspensions
  • Carbon
  • Cellulose