Rheologically identical behavior of emulsions and suspensions in steady shear-flow. Dimensional analysis and experimental-evidence

This study presents the parameters that influence the rheological behavior of emulsions and suspensions subjected to steady shear flow. Under the conditions examined, i.e., small particle and droplet sizes, the emulsions and suspensions exhibited identical rheological material behavior. The capillary number and ratio of the viscosities of the dispersed and continuous phases have no effect on the emulsion's relative viscosity. Since the continuous phases of the emulsion and suspension exhibited Newtonian flow behavior, the nonlinearity in the viscosity function can be attributed to the disperse phase.