Velocity-weighted bulk concentration

For more concentrated suspensions, other parameters should be taken into consideration, such as the bulk (elastic) modulus. Clearly, the stress exerted by the particles depends not only on the particle size but on the density difference between the partide and the medium. Many suspension concentrates have particles with radii up to 10 pm and a density difference of more than 1 g cm . However, the stress exerted by such partides will seldom exceed 10 Pa and most polymer solutions will reach their limiting viscosity value at higher stresses than this. Thus, in most cases the correlation between setfling velocity and zero shear viscosity is justified, at least for relatively dilute systems. For more concentrated suspensions, an elastic network is produced in the system which encompasses the suspension particles as well as the polymer chains. Here, settling of individual partides may be prevented. However, in this case the elastic network may collapse under its own weight and some liquid be squeezed out from between the partides. This is manifested in a dear liquid layer at the top of the suspension, a phenomenon usually... 

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