Rheological Properties and Structure of Gels Generated from Stable Polymer Colloids through High Shear in a MicroChannel

The liquid-like to solid-like transition (gelation) has been investigated in high turbulent shear flow generated in a microchannel for polymer colloids composed of styrene-acrylate copolymer particles, fully stabilized by negatively charges from both the polymer chain end groups and adsorbed aliphatic sulfonate surfactant. The main objective is to explore the connection between high shear-induced gelation and the inhomogeneous state of the adsorbed surfactants on the particle surface, characterized by the coexistence of non-interactive gaseous molecule and associated condensed cluster patches. The effect of such inhomogeneity on the structure of gels has also been investigated.