https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2011-11061-4
Regular Article
Microstructuration stages during gelation of gelatin under shear
Institut des Nanosciences de Paris, CNRS UMR 7588, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
* e-mail: olivier.ronsin@insp.jussieu.fr
Received:
25
January
2011
Revised:
22
March
2011
Accepted:
1
June
2011
Published online:
24
June
2011
We study gelation under shear of aqueous gelatin by measuring the evolution of the apparent viscosity, thus extending the previous study by de Carvalho and Djabourov (W. de Carvalho, M. Djabourov, Rheol. Acta 36, 591 (1997)). From a set of experiments under constant stress, we deduce that the microstructure evolves through the following succession of regimes: i) nucleation and growth until crowding of a microgel suspension; ii) coalescence into strata parallel to the flow; iii) gradual thickening of these strata via transverse cross-linking until the flow finally localizes into two interfacial sliding bands which close sequentially. The transition between these regimes occurs at characteristic viscosity values. This scenario is fully confirmed by experiments performed at constant shear rates. We expect it to be relevant for all materials forming thermoreversible gels.
© EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2011
