Particle-settling in iper-viscous liquids and its use for time measurement

TL;DR

This paper explores how particle-settling in highly viscous liquids can be modeled to develop materials that change predictably over time, useful for industrial time measurement devices.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical fluid-dynamics model for particle-settling in viscous liquids to create materials with linear time-dependent properties.

Findings

Model predicts linear conductance change over time.

Applicable for designing time-indicating materials.

Provides a basis for industrial time measurement devices.

Abstract

Materials for time measurement represent a new class of functional materials, that can be used to fabricate a variety of devices useful for industrial applications, like for example the shelf-life indicators, solid-state chronometers, compact detonators, etc. Materials for time measurement require to have a continuously self-changing property that vary linearly during the time. The particle-settling phenomenon can be advantageously used to fabricate this type of materials. A theoretical model based on simple fluid-dynamics considerations for Newtonian fluids has been developed to obtain the temporal evolution of the electrical conductance for these materials, in order to verify its linear behaviour.