Industry/University Cooperative Research Activity: Optical Methods Applied to Suspension Rheology

了解牛顿流体和非牛顿流体中悬浮颗粒在流动中的取向对于广泛的重要过程是重要的。这包括复合材料加工以及在油墨和油漆中添加添加剂。这项研究计划将利用首席研究员实验室最近开发的两种光学方法来研究各种流体动力学问题，这些问题涉及非对称和/或可变形粒子在牛顿和非牛顿流体中的悬浮。实验方法包括使用偏振法或光偏振分析，以及小角光散射。

Knowledge of the orientation of suspended particles in both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids subjected to flow is important to a wide range of important processes. These include composite materials processing and the addition of additives to inks and paints. This research program will utilize two optical methods which have been recently developed in the laboratory of the principal investigator for the investigation of various fluid dynamics problems involving suspensions of anasymmetric and/or deformable particles in both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The experimental methods involve the use of polarimetry, or the analysis of light polarization, and small angle light scattering.