Microscopic dynamics of recovery in sheared depletion gels

We report x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy and diffusing wave spectroscopy studies of depletion gels formed from nanoscale silica colloids in solutions of nonabsorbing polymer following the cessation of shear. The two techniques provide a quantitatively coherent picture of the dynamics as balli...

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Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 96; no. 22; p. 228301
Main Authors Chung, B, Ramakrishnan, S, Bandyopadhyay, R, Liang, D, Zukoski, C F, Harden, J L, Leheny, R L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 09.06.2006
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Summary:We report x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy and diffusing wave spectroscopy studies of depletion gels formed from nanoscale silica colloids in solutions of nonabsorbing polymer following the cessation of shear. The two techniques provide a quantitatively coherent picture of the dynamics as ballistic or convective motion of colloidal clusters whose internal motion is arrested. While the dynamics possesses features characteristic of nonergodic soft solids, including a relaxation time that grows linearly with the time since shear, comparison with behavior of quenched supercooled liquids indicates that this evolution is not directly related to traditional aging phenomena in glasses.
ISSN:0031-9007
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.96.228301