Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : March 13, 2024 - March 14, 2024
Photoresponsive fluid whose viscosity changes by external light stimulation was experimentally investigated to control the characteristics of shear flow without flow contamination. The CTAB/C4AzoNa surfactant solutions, one of the photoresponsive fluid, is able to increase its viscosity by UV (ultraviolet) light and decrease by visible light alternatively. The solution filled a thin gap of the rotating co-axial cylinder represented as a simple shear flow model, Couette flow. The torque acting on the inner cylinder surface was measured under irradiating by local UV and overall visible light consecutively. Obtained results suggested that the viscosity and the torque of the CTAB/C4AzoNa solution could be controlled reversibly and continuously. Moreover, it showed possibility that changing the irradiation conditions and the concentration of the solution led to increased amount of viscosity and torque change. The potential of the CTAB/C4AzoNa solution was shown to realize flow control without contamination and be of use for new fluid machinery, such as fluid bearings.
