Shear thickening in low-concentration solutions of wormlike micelles. I. Direct visualization of transient behavior and phase transitions

Y. T. Hu, Philippe Boltenhagen, D. J. Pine

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Shear thickening of low-concentration solutions of wormlike micelles is investigated using simultaneous rheological and visualization measurements. Shear-induced structures (SISs) are directly visualized in transparent Couette cells using a laser light scattering technique similar to dark-field microscopy. From these measurements, four different regimes of behavior are identified. In regime I, which occurs below a critical shear stress σc , the shear rate increases monotonically with stress and no shear thickening or SISs are observed. In regime II, which occurs for stresses greater than σc but less than σs , SISs nucleate inhomogeneously and grow from the inner cylinder of the Couette cell. In this regime, the steady state shear rate initially decreases with increasing stress and then increases again as the stress is raised. The steady state in regime II is characterized by two coexisting states separated by a cylindrical interface (concentric with the Couette cylinders). Near the inner cylinder, viscous SISs are observed, while near the outer cylinder, a much less viscous fluid similar to the original micellar solution is observed. The steady state in regime II is observed only under conditions of controlled stress. In regime III, which occurs for stresses above σs but below σf, SISs nucleate homogeneously throughout the shear cell and appear to fill the gap. Regime IV is characterized by the fracture of SIS and is observed at σf. The shear-thickening transition bears many similarities to a phase transition as opposed to a simple hydrodynamic instability.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1185-1208
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Rheology
Volume42
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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