Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:27:20 BST CiteULike: dchens Walker http://www.citeulike.org/user/dchen/author/Walker CiteULike.org en-gb Copyright © 2004-2008 citeulike.org http://www.citeulike.org/user/dchen/article/2714504 <i>Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Vol. 213, No. 2-3. (12 February 2003), pp. 189-197.</i><br /><br />Suspensions of clay particles (laponite), mixed with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) undergo a dramatic shear thickening when subjected to vigorous shaking, which transforms them from a low viscosity fluid into a [`]shake-gel', a solid with elasticity sufficient enough to support its own weight. The shake-gel is reversible, relaxing back to a fluid with a relaxation time that is strongly dependent on PEO concentration. Shake-gels are observed for PEO concentrations slightly below the threshold for complete saturation of the laponite particles by the polymer. Light scattering measurements confirm that the PEO is adsorbed on the surface of the laponite particles, and suggests that shear induces a bridging between the colloidal particles, resulting in a gel network which spans the system. Desorption of the polymer reduces the bridging and thus relaxes the network. Shake-gels: shear-induced gelation of laponite-PEO mixtures J Zebrowski V Prasad W Zhang LM Walker DA Weitz doi:10.1016/S0927-7757(02)00512-5 Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Vol. 213, No. 2-3. (12 February 2003), pp. 189-197. 2008-04-24T22:24:38-00:00 2003 Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 213 2-3 189 197 gel shear weitz