APPLICATIONS OF NON-

NEWTONIAN FLUIDS IN
DIFFERENT AREAS
Aside from air and water, most of the fluids we encounter in physical and
industrial processes are "non-Newtonian" (meaning that there is no simple
relationship between the stress and the rate of strain). Often, the 'rheology'
arises because the fluid in question builds up a microstructure at the
molecular level which becomes sufficiently extensive to affect the
macroscopic properties of the fluid. In lava, for example, the microstructure
is provided by a network of interlocked silicate crystals, and endows the fluid
with an internal strength that allows lava to withstand a certain amount of
imposed stress before it flows

This section discusses various applications of non-newtonian fluid flow. These

include use of non-newtonian fluid in controlling oil spills, body armor.

For study of turbulent flow.

 By incorporating non-Newtonian properties into a dye-streak, a highly
effective flow tracer has been developed. Such a tracer is of great interest
because it allows following turbulent and separated flows currently
inaccessible with simple methods. The non-Newtonian tracer is developed
using ideas based on drag-reduction technology. The basic concept is to
incorporate both the shear-induced-state (SIS), sometimes referred-to as
shear thickening or strain-hardening flow aspects found in surfactant
solutions, with the high extensional viscosity or thread-drawing properties of
polymer solutions. These are then used to form (with a colorant) a tracer
fluid that can be ejected into the turbulent flow as a dye-streak which resists
dispersion and breakup while following the flow path

Liquid Armor
One application of non-Newtonian fluid could be a flexible military suit. Inside
the suit there would be some kind of non-Newtonian fluid which would
remain in liquid state while the soldier stands still, moves or runs, but would
immediately go into the solid state when the bullet hits, acting as a sort of
flexible bulletproof armor.

The main problems in designing such a protective armor is to make detailed

calculations of:

stresses which occurs during different soldier's activities and during

hits of a bullet

viscosity vs. stress dependence of the fluid

mechanical properties of the fluid while in liquid and solid state

and, of course, design and synthesize a fluid with the desired

properties calculated above

Non-Newtonian Fluid Sport Shoes

Non-Newtonian fluids could be also used in shoe manufacturing. The inside
layer of the shoes would be filled with a non-Newtonian fluid. During
standing, walking, or easy running, when pressures which act on the shoe
are weak, the non-Newtonian fluid would remain in a liquid state and
therefore the shoe interior would adapt to he position and shape of the foot.
This would make Non-Newtonian Fluid Sport Shoes very comfortable. During
fast running or other activities which apply strong pressures on the foot, the
non-Newtonian fluid would solidify at places and prevent possible injuries.
Again, the main hurdle in making such a shoe is finding a non-Newtonian
fluid whose viscosity vs. stress dependence satisfies the above requirements.
Viscous coupling
In four-wheel drive vehicles the driving and non-driving shafts are connected
by a mechanical device called viscous coupling. The device consists of many
circular plates with perforations. Those plates are placed in a drum and fitted
very close to each other. Inside the drum there is a non-Newtonian fluid
whose viscosity increases with shear stress. Plates are alternately connected
to the driving shaft at one end and non-driving shaft at the other.

When a vehicle moves without skidding, both shafts together with their
connected plates rotate with the same rotational speed. The non-Newtonian
fluid remains in liquid state due to the absence of shear between adjacent
plates. But, in a situation in which the vehicle is skidding the difference in
rotational speed of adjacent plates produces shear stress: the fluid abruptly
increases its viscosity (it responds much like a solid) and therefore transfers
motion between plates. The end effect is a transfer of torque from driving to
the non-driving shaft - in other words, we switch from a two-wheel to a four-
wheel drive.

Oil recovery processes

Foams
Many claims have been made for the use of foams in oil recovery operations.
Foam is effective in restricting the flow of both gas and liquid. The use of
foam has been suggested for secondary oil recovery in reservoirs with either
an underlying waterbearing strata or a gas cap. Stable, tenacious foams are
placed in either the gas cap or the water strata and serve as a method of
diverting injected and produced fluids through the oil-bearing formation. For
improved thermal recovery, water is injected into the formation concurrently
with the combustion supporting gas. A foaming agent is mixed with the gas
and water to keep them together.

Polymer Solutions
High molecular weight, water-soluble polymers are being used increasingly
in the field for mobility control in secondary waterflood operations. The
mechanism of enhanced recovery involved in polymer flooding is based on
decreasing the mobility difference between displacing and displaced fluids, in
order to reduce fingering effects. The displacing phase should have mobility
equal to or lower than the mobility of the oil phase . When the water/oil
mobility ratio (M) is 1 or slightly less, the displacement of the oil by the water
phase will occur in a piston-like fashion. By contrast, if M is greater than 1,
the more mobile water phase will finger through the oil, causing a
breakthrough and poor recovery. Since the mobility is inversely proportional
to the viscosity, the polymer should act as an effective viscosifier for the
aqueous phase. The main features of such polymers are: very high molecular
weight, resistance to mechanical degradation in shear and, of course,
complete solubility in water.

Polymeric surfactants are macromolecules which contain both hydrophilic

and hydrophobic parts in their structure.