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Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions

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Cyclically sheared colloidal gels: structural change and delayed failure time.

Himangsu Bhaumik¹, James E Hallett², Tanniemola B Liverpool³

¹Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.

|October 31, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cyclically shearing colloidal gels alters their structure and mechanical properties. Depending on shear conditions, gels can become more compliant (thixotropy) or stiffer (strain hardening), impacting their stability.

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Studying Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear Response of Soft Materials

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Published on: April 25, 2019

Area of Science:

Colloidal science
Soft matter physics
Materials science

Background:

Colloidal gels are complex fluids with applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Understanding their response to mechanical stress is crucial for processing and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the structural and mechanical changes in colloidal gels under cyclic shear.
To explore the relationship between shear history and gel behavior, including thixotropy and strain hardening.

Main Methods:

Experimental studies on colloid-polymer mixture gels.
Computer simulations using a model gel-former.
Analysis of structural parameters (topological cluster classification, bond-order parameters, pore size distribution).
Mechanical response analysis (stress, dissipation rate, creeping flow).

Main Results:

Cyclic shear induces structural evolution and pore size increase in gels.
A crossover from elastic to plastic behavior is observed with increasing strain amplitude.
Gels exhibit both thixotropy (increased compliance) and strain hardening (reduced compliance) depending on parameters.
Pre-sheared gels show increased stability under constant shear stress.
Anisotropic structural features are imprinted by cyclic shear, influencing response orientation.

Conclusions:

Cyclic shear significantly modifies colloidal gel microstructure and rheology.
The observed thixotropy and strain hardening are key responses to shear history.
Anisotropy introduced by cyclic shear plays a critical role in gel stability and flow behavior.