The influence of surface chemistry on the rheology and flow of flocculated particulate suspensions

摘要

The role of the surface chemistry of particles incontrolling the rheology of flocculated particulate suspensions isdiscussed. The case is developed for the measurement of the shearyield stress of a suspension of alumina particles and a theoreticalinterpretation of the yield stress is presented which is able todescribe the effect of particle size distribution, solid loading, pHand hence, electrokinetics of the suspension. Scaling of the data tothe maximum yield stress at a given volume fraction provides ameans of removing particle size and volume fraction relatedeffects and gives information as to the mode of failure in yieldingof suspensions and the mode of action of molecular additives.