Rheological Behavior of Semi-Solid Ointment Base (Vaseline) in Steady Shear Flow Fields

Using a strain-controlled rheometer [Rheometrics Dynamic Analyzer (RDA II)], the steady shear flow properties of a semi-solid ointment base (vaseline) have been measured over a wide range of shear rates at temperature range of $25{\sim}60^{\circ}C$. In this article, the steady shear flow properties (shear stress, steady shear viscosity and yield stress) were reported from the experimentally obtained data and the effects of shear rate as well as temperature on these properties were discussed in detail. In addition, several inelastic-viscoplastic flow models including a yield stress parameter were employed to make a quantitative evaluation of the steady shear flow behavior, and then the applicability of these models was examined by calculating the various material parameters (yield stress, consistency index and flow behavior index). Main findings obtained from this study can be summarized as follows : (1) At temperature range lower than $40^{\circ}C$, vaseline is regarded as a viscoplastic material having a finite magnitude of yield stress and its flow behavior beyond a yield stress shows a shear-thinning (or pseudo-plastic) feature, indicating a decrease in steady shear viscosity as an increase in shear rate. At this temperature range, the flow curve of vaseline has two inflection points and the first inflection point occurring at relatively lower shear rate corresponds to a static yield stress. The static yield stress of vaseline is decreased with increasing temperature and takes place at a lower shear rate, due to a progressive breakdown of three dimensional network structure. (2) At temperature range higher than $45^{\circ}C$, vaseline becomes a viscous liquid with no yield stress and its flow character exhibits a Newtonian behavior, demonstrating a constant steady shear viscosity regardless of an increase in shear rate. With increasing temperature, vaseline begins to show a Newtonian behavior at a lower shear rate range, indicating that the microcrystalline structure is completely destroyed due to a synergic effect of high temperature and shear deformation. (3) Over a whole range of temperatures tested, the Herschel-Bulkley, Mizrahi-Berk, and Heinz-Casson models are all applicable and have an almostly equivalent ability to quantitatively describe the steady shear flow behavior of vaseline, whereas the Bingham, Casson,and Vocadlo models do not give a good ability.

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