Development and evaluation of a device for optimum quality simultaneous rheological and morphological characterisation of complex fluids

Gouseti, Ourania (2012). Development and evaluation of a device for optimum quality simultaneous rheological and morphological characterisation of complex fluids. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

With an increasing academic and industrial interest in complex, multiphase fluids, there is an associated interest in obtaining suitable methods for simultaneous characterisation of structure and rheology of such systems under flow. In the present work, development and evaluation of a prototype for optimum quality simultaneous rheological and morphological data acquisition has been considered. The work has been supported by Malvern Instruments, a leading company in laboratory and industrial instrumentation. The prototype was developed by combining optical geometries, designed and constructed during this project, with unique image acquisition unit and a standard rotational rheometer. Performance of the prototype has been extensively tested. First, accuracy of in house made geometries in rheological characterisation was found in very good agreement with standard geometries supplied by Malvern Instruments over a wide range of viscosities (0.01-10Pa s). Second, image acquisition was evaluated at high shears and for the first time reported images at shear rates as high as 20000s\(^{-1}\) have been acquired. Third, the potential of the new device in simultaneous rheo-structural measurements was demonstrated. Simultaneous rheology and structure of industrially relevant liquid / liquid systems was further investigated. Good agreement of rheological results was found with selected literature data and images of high quality were acquired. However, it has been difficult to compare combined rheology / morphology with literature as such data are not common in the literature yet. Development of the device as a marketable product was lastly considered and a complete experimental setup was suggested. Confirmation of the successful outcome of this work has been the recent filing of a provisional patent, approved under US regulations, and it is expected that a new instrument for optimum quality simultaneous rheo-structural measurements will be available in the market by Malvern Instruments in the near future.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):