Elastic floe model, flocculation

In the elastic floe model, the structural units (which persist at high shear rates) are assumed to be small floes of particles (called floccules) which are characterized by the extent to which the particle structure is able to trap some of the dispersion medium. The degree to which liquid is trapped in the floe is measured by the floe volume ratio, CFF, given by,... 

For the intepretation of the rheological results, using the elastic floe model, it is necessary to have a model for the flocculated structure. For the present case, flocculation probably takes place by interpenetration of PVA tails under worse than 9- conditions for the chain. A typical floe may be assumed to consist of strings of particles linked together in a more-or-less three-dimensional network. The compactness of the floe (as measured by Cpp) is related to its strength by the number of chains, n, which pass through unit cross sectional area of the floe (29,31). n can be calculated from the total number of bonds per floe (36), i.e. 

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