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There is a wide
variety of industries dealing with fluids whose behaviour does not follow
the hydrodynamic laws. Fluids showing non-linear viscous behaviours, as
well as viscoelastic materials, are Complex Fluids. A great variety of
materials are, thus, categorised as complex fluids: polymers
(thermoplastics, elastomers, composites,…), gels, colloidal fluids,
suspensions, emulsions, foams, micelar and liquid-crystal phases, molten
materials, etc. Industries involved with such materials are, among others:
plastic and rubber industries, ceramic, food, biochemical and
pharmaceutical industries, cosmetic, detergent, paints, varnish and glaze
industries, lubricants, inks, adhesives, sealants, construction
industries, etc.
The behaviour of these materials may
change during manufacturing, processing or storage of these products. A
characterisation of the physical-chemical properties of these materials (microstructural,
rheological, interfacial, etc.) is required in order to optimise the
process/formulation conditions. Regarding their applications, the
rheological properties of these materials provide valuable and useful
information for quality control, product stability, end-use properties or
new-product development.
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