The Rheology of Concentrated Micellar Solutions and Colloidal Dispersions

Princeton University, Princeton NJ

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract CTS-0120421 Russel It is important to understand and quantitatively model the linear and nonlinear rheology of highly concentrated micellar and colloidal systems. The goal of the proposed research is to reproducibly formulate two types of systems with prescribed rheology. These are the highly viscous and viscoelastic micellar solutions of telechetic polymers, as well as nanosize particles bearing terminally grafted chains that form brushes. Although considerable work has been done to understand the behavior of associative polymers, this study will provide the fundamental understanding of the underlying structure of the micelles. There is little information on the rheology of the nanosized brush-like particles. Therefore, this study should provide new and exciting insight in the rheology of soft particles with the potential for unusual variations with concentration and the stress field.