Comparison of the Viscoelastic Properties and Viscosity of Suspensions Determined by Oscillation and Creep Testing

Abstract

Knowledge of the viscoelastic properties of suspensions is essential for many industrial processes. Although oscillation and creep testing are widely used to measure the viscoelastic properties of complex fluids, few studies on the correlation between the viscoelastic properties measured using these methods have been published. This study aims to provide insights into the differences between these methods and determine which method is better suited for a particular application. The room-temperature viscoelastic properties of a suspension composed of polyethylene beads dispersed in a silicone oil matrix were measured by oscillation and creep testing and compared. The results of oscillation testing indicated that the suspension showed weakly elastic deformation, whereas the results of creep testing revealed that the suspension was relatively elastic, with the liquid phase showing lower viscosity. In addition, the viscosity measured by oscillation testing was lower than that measured by creep testing. When the imposed flow causes microstructural changes, such as when the shear flow and particle–particle contact induce aggregation, the analyzed flow property considerably differs between testing methods.