Rheology and Structure of Emulsions
Babak Valipour Goodarzi, Reza Foudazi
Abstract
Emulsions are applicable across various industrial and research sectors, which makes analyzing their rheological behavior crucial. In this article, we discuss the links between droplet arrangement and deformation to explore how the rheological behavior of an emulsion is underpinned by microstructure. By reviewing our previous related investigations, we discuss the effects of droplet size, volume fraction, interdroplet interactions, and interfacial properties on the elastic modulus, yield stress, yield strain, and flow behavior. In addition, we elaborate how the elastoviscoplastic behavior of concentrated and highly concentrated emulsions is governed by the interplay among these structural parameters, indicating elastic, plastic, and viscous behavior. Finally, we suggest how the thermal energy density, scaled interdroplet interaction, and Laplace pressure determine possible recoverable and unrecoverable strain mechanisms in a gel, repulsive glass, attractive glass, and compressed droplet state.