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Rheological modeling of carbon nanotube suspensions with rod–rod interactions
Author(s) -
Natale G.,
Heuzey M. C.,
Carreau P. J.,
Ausias G.,
Férec J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.14316
Subject(s) - rheology , newtonian fluid , mechanics , carbon nanotube , materials science , particle (ecology) , cauchy stress tensor , tensor (intrinsic definition) , composite material , classical mechanics , physics , geometry , mathematics , oceanography , geology
To explain the shear‐thinning behavior of untreated carbon nanotube (CNT) suspensions in a Newtonian matrix, a new set of rheological equations is developed. The CNTs are modeled as rigid rods dispersed in a Newtonian matrix and the evolution of the system is controlled by hydrodynamic and rod–rod interactions. The particle–particle interactions is modeled by a nonlinear lubrication force, function of the relative velocity at the contact point, and weighted by the contact probability. The stress tensor is calculated from the known fourth‐order orientation tensor and a new fourth‐order interaction tensor. The Fokker‐Planck equation is numerically solved for steady simple shear flows using a finite volume method. The model predictions show a good agreement with the steady shear data of CNTs dispersed in a Newtonian epoxy matrix as well as for suspensions of glass fibers in polybutene, 1 demonstrating its ability to describe the behavior of micro‐ and nanoscale particle suspensions. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 60: 1476–1487, 2014