Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
10:56
Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
Published on: May 20, 2014
Strain-accelerated dynamics of soft colloidal glasses
Praveen Agarwal1, Lynden A Archer
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA.
Summary
Strain accelerates the dynamics of soft glasses, speeding up relaxation. This fundamental behavior, observed in rheology experiments, is explained by the soft glassy rheology model.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Rheology
Background:
- Soft glasses exhibit complex dynamics under mechanical stress.
- Understanding their behavior is crucial for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the strain-accelerated dynamics of soft glasses.
- To explore the influence of shear strain on relaxation processes.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical investigation using the soft glassy rheology (SGR) model.
- Experimental mechanical rheology measurements on diverse soft glass systems.
- Analysis of both step and oscillatory shear flow responses.
Main Results:
- Evidence of accelerated relaxation at modest shear strains was observed.
- This strain-acceleration effect is present in both step and oscillatory shear flows.
- The findings were consistent across various tested soft glass materials.
Conclusions:
- The observed strain-accelerated dynamics are a fundamental property of soft glasses.
- This phenomenon was previously unexplored in the context of soft glassy rheology.
- The SGR model successfully explains this newly identified attribute.
Related Concept Videos
01:29The Colloidal State
The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called the...
01:17Colloids and Suspensions
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles visible to the naked eye or seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. The suspended particles in a suspension settle out after some time of mixing. The separation of particles from a suspension is...
01:34Fluid Mosaic Model
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.LipidsThe most...