| Abstract: | The viscosity of highly inelastic shear thinning fluids and aqueous suspensions of kaolin clay particles has been investigated using a helical ribbon impeller fitted to a rheometer. Viscosity data for the single phase non-Newtonian fluids adequately processed with a generalized Reynolds number based on the impeller tip speed are shown to superimpose very well to the results obtained with a cone and plate rheometer. In the case of the two-phase system, it is shown that the data treatment for single phase system can be extended. The helical ribbon impeller yields more stable viscosity values than with the traditional geometries and no spurious flow phenomena (i.e., sedimentation, slip at the wall, etc.) was observed, making this system a superior device for suspension rheology over cone and plate and Couette flow rheometers. |
