We studied the rheological properties of UV curable microcapsule ink having various particle sizes. The sizes of microcapsules were 2.2, 3.6, 5.7 and 13μm in diameter. The volume fraction of microcapsules was 41.1%. The rheological measurements were performed using Rheometrics Fluid Spectrometer at 25°C. In the steady shear measurements, the viscosity decreased with increasing rate of shear, but quasi-equilibrium viscosity was observed in the medium shear rate region for disperse system consisting of small size of microcapsule. The dependence of viscosity on rate of shear can be explained by breaking down and reformation of a flocculated structure formed by dispersed particles. The quasi-equilibrium viscosity can be explained by a temporary layered flow of spherical flocculated structure formed by dispersed particles. In the disperse system consisting of large particles, the flow behavior can be explained by hydrodynamic interaction and particles do not construct flocculated network structure. From the results of stress growth measurements, it can be concluded that decreasing the size, particles are easy to form denser flocculated network structure.
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