Rheo-optical determination of the interfacial tension in a dispersed blend

Tassieri, M. , Grizzuti, N. and Greco, F. (2003) Rheo-optical determination of the interfacial tension in a dispersed blend. Macromolecular Symposia, 198(1), pp. 53-68. (doi: 10.1002/masy.200350806)

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Abstract

In this work, we present two novel methods to determine the interfacial tension of a disperse polymer blend through rheo-optical measurements of flow-induced single drop distortions. A counter-rotating shearing device with transparent plates is used to measure drop distortions. The cell geometry allows for a top view of the deforming drop, i.e., along the velocity gradient direction. Such a view is the only possible option for all currently available commercial rheo-optical instruments. Two different quantities are monitored, namely, the drop axis along the vorticity direction, and the rotation period of the drop surface. We use drops of a polyacrilamide aqueous solution (a shear thinning liquid) immersed in a polyisobutene matrix. Experimental results are interpreted in terms of theories for Newtonian liquids, where the relevant parameter is the Capillary number. If an appropriate viscosity ratio is chosen, that accounts for the shear thinning behaviour of the drop phase, good agreement is found between measurements and theoretical predictions. As a result, a robust estimate of the blend interfacial tension, that makes use only of the information acquired from top view experiments, is obtained.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Tassieri, Dr Manlio
Authors: Tassieri, M., Grizzuti, N., and Greco, F.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
Journal Name:Macromolecular Symposia
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1022-1360
ISSN (Online):1521-3900

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