| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C528557/1 |
| Title: |
RHEOLOGY OF COLLOIDAL SUSPENSIONS WITH NANOSCALE INTERACTIONS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Starov, Professor VM |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Chemical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Loughborough University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
18 October 2005 |
Ends: |
17 April 2009 |
Value (£): |
209,414
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Complex fluids & soft solids |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The reversible aggregation of stable colloidal particles in suspensions are widely encountered in the natural world, for example the colloidal component in rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, and is of great importance to a wide range of industries and product manufacturers, for example, liquid-like foods, medicines, pharmaceutical products and water treatment. Control of the extent of aggregation and the associated rheological properties of these systems is essential and is still achieved largely on a semi-empirical basis. Stable colloidal dispersions with controlled levels of aggregation are widely encountered but still poorly understood in many respects.We will use new approaches to understand and provide a theoretical description of the rheology of complex colloidal suspensions, which form clusters (doublets, triplets and so on) based on the consideration of nano-scale forces between the particles. We will carry out aggregation experiments of inorganic particles in aqueous solution and hydrophobic/hydrophobised particles in hydrophobic liquids and measure the rheological behaviour of suspensions based on the cluster particle size distribution as a function of a nano-scale interaction forces. These forces acting between the particles will be experimentally measured using Atomic Force Microscopy. Using these nano-scale forces computer simulations will be carried out modelling the motion of 1000's of particles in the colloid to compute the cluster formation in time as a function of the nano-scale interaction forces and the resulting rheology. The computer simulations will provide data for complex theoretical models for predictions of the cluster size evolution and associated rheolog in colloids. The complex models will be compared directly with the experimental data and the many particle simulations. Iterative interaction between the three aspects of work will help to develop a new area in colloid engineering: rheology of reversibly coagulating colloidal suspensions, which should be a useful tool in product design and development.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.lboro.ac.uk |