Versatile imaging module for rheometers

悬浮液、乳液、（生物）凝胶和（生物）聚合物等“软材料”的流动响应在食品和个人护理产品等广泛的行业中至关重要，并且是深入应用和基础研究的主题。这些特性的传统表征（粘度、弹性、蠕变、老化等）流变学测量依赖于流变学测量，但现在认识到，仅凭流变学测量不足以完全理解并因此优化软材料的复杂流动特性。通常需要的是在流动过程中表征其演变的微观结构，从而将这种演变直接映射到其流变响应。我们建议开发一个多功能模块，这将使新的高质量成像的微结构演变和先进的速度在不同的几何形状的流变仪。该单元将辅之以一套分析技术。综合能力将为流变光学表征提供新的维度，该模块将使各种工业和学术研究实验室能够实现这些功能。

The flow response of 'soft materials' such as suspension, emulsions, (bio)gels and (bio)polymers, is of prime importance in a vast range of industries, e.g. foodstuffs and personal care products, and is the subject of intensive applied and fundamental research. Traditional characterization of these properties (viscosity, elasticity, creep, aging etc..) relies on rheological measurements, but it is now recognized that this alone is insufficient to fully understand, and thus optimize, the complex flow properties of soft materials. What is often required is characterization of their evolving microstructure during flow, allowing direct mapping of this evolution to their rheological response. We propose to develop a versatile module which will enable novel high quality imaging of micro-structure evolution and advanced velocimetry in rheometers in different geometries. The module will be complemented by a suite of analysis techniques. The combined capabilities will provide a new dimension in rheo-optical characterization and the module will bring these within reach of a variety of industrial and academic research laboratories.