Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids

The on-site rheological characterization of complex fluids is important for a number of industrial, medical, and academic applications. Typically, laboratory-based rheometers are used to characterize rheological properties of fluids, which include, elasticity, relaxation time, and shear viscosity. H...

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Main Author: Bustos, Nicole Alejandra
Other Authors: Bourouiba, Lydia
Format: Thesis
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/139126
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author Bustos, Nicole Alejandra
author2 Bourouiba, Lydia
author_facet Bourouiba, Lydia
Bustos, Nicole Alejandra
author_sort Bustos, Nicole Alejandra
collection MIT
description The on-site rheological characterization of complex fluids is important for a number of industrial, medical, and academic applications. Typically, laboratory-based rheometers are used to characterize rheological properties of fluids, which include, elasticity, relaxation time, and shear viscosity. However, this can be challenging as some samples, in particular biological fluids, may degrade over time and therefore do not retain their natural properties after collection and transport. In preparation for a human subject study, we investigated protocols to collect and preserve mucosalivary samples collected in a clinical location. Preliminary investigation and previous literature evidenced that mucosalivary fluid degraded with time as a result of protease and enzymatic activity on mucin polymers which contribute to the fluids bulk rheological properties. Therefore, we found it necessary to develop a portable, economical rheometer that can provide rapid results in the field. First, we investigated the sensitivity of capillary breakup measurements, the method chosen for measuring elasticity, to initial stretch parameters in using the commercial, Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometer (CaBER), using analog polymer solutions. Finally, our study highlighted the need to measure elastic properties directly on site. This aided in determining the appropriate stretching parameters for characterization of biological fluids such as mucosalivary fluid without the effect of degradation and additionally with the ability to tune the rheological properties of fluids. We built a portable device for measuring elasticity using two modes: 1) direct imaging of the fluid capillary breakup and 2) an integrated electrical circuit to measure breakup time. The results showed that our portable device had comparable performance to the laboratory rheometer, CaBER.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1391262022-01-15T03:02:18Z Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids Bustos, Nicole Alejandra Bourouiba, Lydia Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering The on-site rheological characterization of complex fluids is important for a number of industrial, medical, and academic applications. Typically, laboratory-based rheometers are used to characterize rheological properties of fluids, which include, elasticity, relaxation time, and shear viscosity. However, this can be challenging as some samples, in particular biological fluids, may degrade over time and therefore do not retain their natural properties after collection and transport. In preparation for a human subject study, we investigated protocols to collect and preserve mucosalivary samples collected in a clinical location. Preliminary investigation and previous literature evidenced that mucosalivary fluid degraded with time as a result of protease and enzymatic activity on mucin polymers which contribute to the fluids bulk rheological properties. Therefore, we found it necessary to develop a portable, economical rheometer that can provide rapid results in the field. First, we investigated the sensitivity of capillary breakup measurements, the method chosen for measuring elasticity, to initial stretch parameters in using the commercial, Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometer (CaBER), using analog polymer solutions. Finally, our study highlighted the need to measure elastic properties directly on site. This aided in determining the appropriate stretching parameters for characterization of biological fluids such as mucosalivary fluid without the effect of degradation and additionally with the ability to tune the rheological properties of fluids. We built a portable device for measuring elasticity using two modes: 1) direct imaging of the fluid capillary breakup and 2) an integrated electrical circuit to measure breakup time. The results showed that our portable device had comparable performance to the laboratory rheometer, CaBER. S.M. 2022-01-14T14:51:30Z 2022-01-14T14:51:30Z 2021-06 2021-06-30T15:12:29.618Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/139126 In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright MIT http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Bustos, Nicole Alejandra
Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids
title Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids
title_full Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids
title_fullStr Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids
title_full_unstemmed Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids
title_short Mini-Portable Rheometer: A device for the on-site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids
title_sort mini portable rheometer a device for the on site rheological characterization of viscoelastic fluids
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/139126
work_keys_str_mv AT bustosnicolealejandra miniportablerheometeradevicefortheonsiterheologicalcharacterizationofviscoelasticfluids