Rheology of Attractive Emulsions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how attractive interactions affect emulsion rheology, revealing gel-like behavior below RCP and similar elasticity above RCP, with unique shear-driven relaxation processes during yielding.

Contribution

It demonstrates the distinct rheological behavior of attractive emulsions compared to repulsive ones, especially below and above RCP, and identifies shear-driven relaxation mechanisms.

Findings

Attractive emulsions form soft gels below RCP.

Above RCP, attractive and repulsive emulsions exhibit similar elasticity.

Attractive emulsions undergo shear-driven relaxation during yielding.

Abstract

We show how attractive interactions dramatically influence emulsion rheology. Unlike the repulsive case, attractive emulsions below random close packing, RCP, can form soft gel-like elastic solids. However, above RCP, attractive and repulsive emulsions have similar elasticities. Such compressed attractive emulsions undergo an additional shear-driven relaxation process during yielding. Our results suggest that attractive emulsions begin to yield at weak points through the breakage of bonds, and, above RCP, also undergo droplet configurational rearrangements.