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arXiv · 1201.2680

Rheology of Attractive Emulsions

Sujit S. Datta·Dustin D. Gerrard·Travers S. Rhodes·Thomas G. Mason·David A. Weitz
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Abstract

We show how attractive interactions dramatically influence emulsion rheology. Unlike the repulsive case, attractive emulsions below random close packing, RCP, can form soft gel-like elastic solids. However, above RCP, attractive and repulsive emulsions have similar elasticities. Such compressed attractive emulsions undergo an additional shear-driven relaxation process during yielding. Our results suggest that attractive emulsions begin to yield at weak points through the breakage of bonds, and, above RCP, also undergo droplet configurational rearrangements.

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Sujit S. Datta, Dustin D. Gerrard, Travers S. Rhodes, Thomas G. Mason, David A. Weitz. 2012-01-12. Rheology of Attractive Emulsions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.84.041404

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