Using microfluidics to assess the elongational behavior of low concentration Carbopol solutions upon addition of polyethylene oxide

Résumé fourni par la source

The exceptional viscosity-modifying and yield stress properties of Carbopol are crucial in various industrial applications, from pharmaceuticals and personal care products to textile and paper. However, Carbopol aqueous solutions, especially in dilute conditions, lack elongational properties, which are essential for numerous applications, such as adhesives and sealants. The combination of different polymers allows for tuning both shear and elongational properties of a solution. This optimization is key to improving product performance and stability, and meeting the specific requirements of a desired application. In this study, we enhance the elongational properties of low concentration Carbopol aqueous solutions by adding polyethylene oxide (PEO) and characterize the resulting solutions using the filament stretching technique in transparent cross-shaped microchannels, where both continuous and dispersed phases are involved. The elongational viscosity is estimated by analyzing the filament thinning of the dispersed phase over time. Our findings indicate that the thinning process becomes more pronounced the more the continuous phase viscosity matches that of the dispersed one. Moreover, adding PEO to a Carbopol solution significantly impacts its elongational behavior, even at low concentrations of both polymers, indicating a synergistic effect between the polymers in modulating the elongational properties.

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