In-situ structuring rheometer based on chaotic advection
OwnerDavid Zumbrunnen, Graham Harrisoninventors
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Abstract
An in-situ structuring rheometer provides a means to develop and measure the rheological properties of structured materials such as those having various polymer blend morphologies or particle networks. Chaotic advection of liquid contained within a cavity is instilled by controlled motions of boundary surfaces and, concomitantly, forces and displacements on the boundary surfaces are measured, indicating at least one of a flow- or a structure-related property.
Claims13
An in-situ structuring rheometer comprising a cavity formed by fixed boundary surfaces and moving boundary surfaces, whereby chaotic advection of liquid contained within the cavity is instilled by controlled motions of the moving boundary surfaces and wherein forces on the boundary surfaces and displacements are measured, such measurements indicating at least one of a flow-related and a structure-related property of the liquid.
An in-situ structuring rheometer capable of generating chaotic advection in liquids contained therein comprising:
- a) a substantially vertical cylinder defining an inner diameter, an upper open end and a lower open end;
- b) an upper substantially circular disk removably insertable into the upper open end;
- c) a lower disk underlying the lower open end wherein the lower disk has a larger diameter than the inner diameter;
- d) an upper axle connecting the upper substantially circular disk to a rotational rheometer head;
- and
- e) a lower axle connecting the lower circular disk with a rotating motor.
A method of chaotic advection comprising:
- (i) providing an in-situ structuring rheometer comprising:
- a) a substantially vertical cylinder defining an inner diameter, an upper open end and a lower open end;
- b) an upper substantially circular disk removably insertable into the upper open end;
- c) a lower disk underlying the lower open end wherein the lower disk has a larger diameter than the inner diameter;
- d) an upper axle connecting the upper substantially circular disk to a rotational rheometer head;
- and
- e) a lower axle connecting the lower circular disk with a rotating motor;
- (ii) charging the cylinder with a mixture of liquefied composite materials;
- (iii) inserting the upper disk into the cylinder wherein the disk is in contact with the contents;
- (iv) operating the rheometer head in a constant strain mode to rotate the upper shaft through a specific angular displacement, thereby rotating the upper disk;
- and
- (v) measuring the torque required to maintain the specific angular displacement while chaotic mixing is ongoing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.