Shear-thinning and shear-thickening emulsions in shear flows

We study the rheology of a two-fluid emulsion in semiconcentrated conditions; solute is Newtonian while solvent an inelastic power-law fluid. The problem at hand tackled by means direct numerical simulations using volume fluid method. analysis performed for different fractions and viscosity ratios under assumption negligible inertia zero buoyancy force. Several carrier fluids are considered encompassing both shear-thinning thickening behaviors. show that effective system increases shear-thickening decreases ones all considered. changes mainly due to modifications coalescence obtained changing property: indeed, local large low shear rates found regions between two interacting droplets thinning fluids, respectively, resulting increased reduced which ultimately affects drainage time system. This process independent nominal ratio we it can not be understood considering only mean rate across domain, but full spectrum must taken into account.