The rheological properties of hydrogenated castor oil crystals

Characterizing Phase Transitions of Microfibrillated Cellulose Induced by Anionic and Cationic Surfactants

Rheological modifiers are used to tune rheology or induce phase transitions of products. Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), a renewable material, has the potential to be used for rheological modification. However, the lack of studies on the evolution in rheological properties and structure during its phase transitions has prevented MFC from being added to consumer, fabric, and home care products. In this work, we characterize surface-oxidized MFC (OMFC), a negatively charged colloidal rod suspension. We measure the rheological properties and structure of OMFC during sol-gel phase transitions induced by either anionic or cationic surfactant using multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT). MPT tracks the Brownian motion of fluorescent probe particles embedded in a sample, which is related to the sample's rheological properties. Using MPT, we measure that OMFC gelation evolution is dependent on the charge of the surfactant that induces the phase transition. OMFC gelation is gradual in anionic surfactant. In cationic surfactant, gelation is rapid followed by length scale-dependent colloidal fiber rearrangement. Initial OMFC concentration is directly related to how tightly associated the network is at the phase transition, with an increase in concentration resulting in a more tightly associated network with smaller pores. Bulk rheology measures that OMFC forms a stiffer structure but yields at lower strains in cationic surfactant than in anionic surfactant. This study characterizes the role of surfactant in inducing phase transitions, which can be used as a guide for designing future products.

Gelation phase diagrams of colloidal rod systems measured over a large composition space

Rheological modifiers tune product rheology with a small amount of material. To effectively use rheological modifiers, characterizing the rheology of the system at different compositions is crucial. Two colloidal rod system, hydrogenated castor oil and polyamide, are characterized in a formulation that includes a surfactant (linear alkylbenzene sulfonate) and a depletant (polyethylene oxide). We characterize both rod systems using multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT) and bulk rheology and build phase diagrams over a large component composition space. In MPT, fluorescent particles are embedded in the sample and their Brownian motion is measured and related to rheological properties. From MPT, we determine that in both systems: (1) microstructure is not changed with increasing colloid concentration, (2) materials undergo a sol–gel transition as depletant concentration increases and (3) the microstructure changes but does not undergo a phase transition as surfactant concentration increases in the absence of depletant. When comparing MPT and bulk rheology results different trends are measured. Using bulk rheology we observe: (1) elasticity of both systems increase as colloid concentration increases and (2) the storage modulus does not change when PEO or LAS concentration is increased. The differences measured with MPT and bulk rheology are likely due to differences in sensitivity and measurement method. This work shows the utility of using both techniques together to fully characterize rheological properties over a large composition space. These gelation phase diagrams will provide a guide to determine the composition needed for desired rheological properties and eliminate trial-and-error experiments during product formulation.

Colloidal rod systems used as rheological modifiers are characterized over a large composition space with microrheology and bulk rheology. Phase diagrams are built that enable identification of compositions with desired properties eliminating trial-and-error experiments.

In-Line Monitoring and Control of Rheological Properties through Data-Driven Ultrasound Soft-Sensors

The use of continuous processing is replacing batch modes because of their capabilities to address issues of agility, flexibility, cost, and robustness. Continuous processes can be operated at more extreme conditions, resulting in higher speed and efficiency. The issue when using a continuous process is to maintain the satisfaction of quality indices even in the presence of perturbations. For this reason, it is important to evaluate in-line key performance indicators. Rheology is a critical parameter when dealing with the production of complex fluids obtained by mixing and filling. In this work, a tomographic ultrasonic velocity meter is applied to obtain the rheological curve of a non-Newtonian fluid. Raw ultrasound signals are processed using a data-driven approach based on principal component analysis (PCA) and feedforward neural networks (FNN). The obtained sensor has been associated with a data-driven decision support system for conducting the process.

Multiple particle tracking microrheology measured using bi-disperse probe diameters

Multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT) is a powerful tool for quantitatively characterizing rheological properties of soft matter. Traditionally, MPT uses a single particle size to characterize rheological properties. But in complex systems, MPT measurements with a single size particle can characterize distinct properties that are linked to the materials' length scale dependent structure. By varying the size of probes, MPT can measure the properties associated with different length scales within a material. We develop a technique to simultaneously track a bi-disperse population of probe particles. 0.5 and 2 μm particles are embedded in the same sample and these particle populations are tracked separately using a brightness-based squared radius of gyration, Rg2. Bi-disperse MPT is validated by measuring the viscosity of glycerol samples at varying concentrations. Bi-disperse MPT measurements agree well with literature values. This technique then characterizes a homogeneous poly(ethylene glycol)-acrylate:poly(ethylene glycol)-dithiol gelation. The critical relaxation exponent and critical gelation time are consistent and agree with previous measurements using a single particle. Finally, degradation of a heterogeneous hydrogenated castor oil colloidal gel is characterized. The two particle sizes measure a different value of the critical relaxation exponent, indicating that they are probing different structures. Analysis of material heterogeneity shows measured heterogeneity is dependent on probe size indicating that each particle is measuring rheological evolution of a length scale dependent structure. Overall, bi-disperse MPT increases the amount of information gained in a single measurement, enabling more complete characterization of complex systems that range from consumer care products to biological materials.

Using μ2rheology to quantify rheological properties during repeated reversible phase transitions of soft matter

A microfluidic device is designed to measure repeated phase transitions, gelation and degradation, on a single sample by exchanging the surrounding fluid while minimizing shear stress. This device enables quantitative microrheological characterization of material properties over multiple phase transitions, determining whether the material returns to the same equilibrium state. Fluid exchange is accomplished by using a two layer design, the sample is trapped in the first layer and the second layer is a well for the exchanging fluid. Fluid enters the sample chamber symmetrically creating equal pressure around the sample, trapping it in place. Multiple particle tracking (MPT) microrheology, a passive microrheological technique, measures the dynamic rheological properties during each phase transition. Combining rheological characterization and sample manipulation using microfluidics is termed μ²rheology. The utility of this technique is demonstrated by characterizing several phase transitions of a fibrous colloidal gel, hydrogenated castor oil. Gelation and degradation is induced by an osmotic pressure gradient created by contact with a glycerine based gelling agent and water, respectively. Several transitions are measured using a single sample. Nine transitions, five gel-sol and four sol-gel, are the maximum number of transitions characterized in a single sample. This microfluidic device and measurement technique is widely applicable and can be easily adapted to any system where solvent exchange is used to induce a change in material properties.

Quantifying the dynamic transition of hydrogenated castor oil gels measured via multiple particle tracking microrheology

Rheological modifiers are essential ingredients in commercial materials that exploit facile and repeatable phase transitions. Although rheological modifiers are used to change flow behavior or quiescent stability, the complex properties of particulate gels during dilution is not well studied. We characterize a dynamically evolving colloidal gel, hydrogenated castor oil (HCO), a naturally sourced material, used in consumer products. This HCO scaffold consists of fibrous colloids, a surfactant (linear alkylbenzene sulfonate) and water. The gel undergoes critical transitions, degradation and formation, in response to an osmotic pressure gradient. Multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT) measures the evolving material properties. In MPT, fluorescent probe particles are embedded into the sample and Brownian motion is measured. MPT data are analyzed using time-cure superposition, identifying critical transition times and critical relaxation exponents for degradation and formation where tc,deg = 102.5 min, ndeg = 0.77 ± 0.09, tc,for = 31.9 min, and nfor = 0.94 ± 0.11, respectively. During degradation and formation HCO gels evolve heterogeneously, this heterogeneity is characterized spatially and temporally. Heterogeneity of the gel is quantified by comparing variances of single particle van Hove correlation functions using an F-test with a 95% confidence interval. HCO transitions have rheological heterogeneous microenvironments that are homogeneously distributed throughout the field of view. Although HCO gels do evolve heterogeneously, this work determines that these heterogeneities do not significantly change traditional MPT measurements but the analysis techniques developed provide additional information on the unique heterogeneous scaffold microenvironments. This creates a toolbox that can be widely applied to other scaffolds during dynamic transitions.