Non-equilibrium polymeric complex fluids

Willmer, D, 2011. Non-equilibrium polymeric complex fluids. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

Complex fluids are commercially- and industrially-important materials which exhibit ordering on scales much larger than atomic. Their usage is typically in non-equilibrium conditions, however traditional methods for measuring rheology are not appropriate for measuring samples with gradients present, such as temperature and concentration. In this work a safe and easy to use optical tweezer (OT) apparatus has been developed in order to facilitate the investigation of various systems during dilution or drying. In contrast to other OT setups, this equipment is safe to use without laser goggles or interlocked rooms, yet still allows full access to the microscope. Proof-of-concept experiments are performed on aqueous poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions to demonstrate the changes in viscosity and concentration over time, and the OT is then used in a rheological investigation into a commercially-relevant wormlike micelle (WLM) system, in conjunction with Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) and traditional bulk rheology. It is shown for the first time that equimolar (eM) SDS:CAPB WLM samples can be considered ‘model’ systems, and form close approximations of Maxwellian systems on the addition of extra salt or surfactant above 0.1eM. The effect of an uncharged polymer (PEO 4M MW) on this WLM network structure was subsequently investigated; its effects are consistent with current theories of polymer-surfactant interactions.

Item Type:	Thesis
Creators:	Willmer, D.
Date:	2011
Rights:	This work is the intellectual property of the author and Unilever PLC. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained in this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed to the owner(s) of the Intellectual Property Rights.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 09:35
Last Modified:	09 Oct 2015 09:35
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/247

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