Irreversible shear-induced vitrification of droplets into elastic nanoemulsions by extreme rupturing

Journal Article · Sun Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.75.041407· OSTI ID:21072415

Wilking, James N ^[1]; Mason, Thomas G ^[1]

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1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095 (United States)

Many materials weaken through fracturing when subjected to extreme stresses. By contrast, we show that breaking down repulsive bits of matter dispersed in a viscous liquid can cause a dramatic and irreversible increase in the dispersion's elasticity. Anionically stabilized microscale emulsions subjected to a history of high-pressure microfluidic flow can develop an unusually large elastic modulus as droplets are ruptured to the nanoscale, yielding 'nanonaise'. As the droplet size approaches the Debye screening length, the nanoemulsion vitrifies. Consequently, the onset of elasticity for disordered uniform nanoemulsions can occur at droplet volume fractions far below maximal random jamming of spheres.

• OSTI ID: 21072415
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Vol. 75, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.75.041407; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DEBYE LENGTH
DROPLETS
ELASTICITY
EMULSIONS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
LIQUIDS
NANOSTRUCTURES
RANDOMNESS
SHEAR
STRESSES
VITRIFICATION
YOUNG MODULUS