When Microrheology, Bulk Rheology, and Microfluidics Meet: Broadband Rheology of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Water Solutions

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b02727
• Publication Date: 2017-03-24T13:01:18Z
• Authors: Francesco Del Giu...; Manlio Tassieri; Claude Oelschlaeger; Amy Q. Shen
• Keywords: Microrheology; Hydroxyethyl cellulose

In this work, we present new insights related to a debate on the morphological structure of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) molecules when dissolved in water, i.e., whether HEC adopts linear-flexible or rod-like fibrillar configuration. We have employed "seven" rheological techniques explore viscoelastic properties solutions at different time and length scales. This work demonstrates an excellent convergence between various over broad range frequencies concentrations, allowing us derive microstructural information for aqueous without use complex optical imaging techniques. find that water unmodified behaves like linear uncharged polymer, with entangled mass concentration ce = 0.3 wt%. Moreover, first provide scaling laws (across ce) longest relaxation λ solutions, obtained from direct readings not inferred fitting procedures fluids shear flow curves.