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Nanogel formation of polymer solutions flowing through porous media

Campo-Deaño, Laura and Galindo-Rosales, Francisco J and Pinho, Fernando T. and Alves, Manuel A. and Oliveira, Monica (2012) Nanogel formation of polymer solutions flowing through porous media. Soft Matter, 8 (24). pp. 6445-6453. ISSN 1744-6848

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Abstract

A gelation process was seen to occur when Boger fluids made from aqueous solutions of polyacrylamide (PAA) and NaCl flowed through porous media with certain characteristics. As these viscoelastic fluids flow through a porous medium, the pressure drop across the bed varies linearly with the flow rate, as also happens with Newtonian fluids. Above a critical flow rate, elastic effects set in and the pressure drop grows above the low-flow-rate linear regime. Increasing further the flow rate, a more dramatic increase in the slope of the pressure drop curve can be observed as a consequence of nanogel formation. In this work, we discuss the reasons for this gelation process based on our measurements using porous media of different sizes, porosity and chemical composition. Additionally, the rheological properties of the fluids were investigated for shear and extensional flows. The fluids were also tested as they flowed through different microfluidic analogues of the porous media. The results indicate that the nanogel inception occurs with the adsorption of PAA molecules on the surface of the porous media particles that contain silica on their surfaces. Subsequently, if the interparticle space is small enough a jamming process occurs leading to flow-induced gel formation.

Item type: Article
ID code: 41329
Keywords: Boger fluids, viscoelastic flow, porous media, nanogel formation, polymer solutions, flow-induced gel formation, Mechanical engineering and machinery, Solid state physics. Nanoscience, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics of Materials, Polymers and Plastics, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
Subjects: Technology > Mechanical engineering and machinery
Science > Physics > Solid state physics. Nanoscience
Department: Faculty of Engineering > Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Technology and Innovation Centre > Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing
Depositing user: Pure Administrator
Date deposited: 02 Oct 2012 14:47
Last modified: 19 Sep 2018 19:40
URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/41329
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