Fluid Coating Dynamics in Non-Newtonian Systems
Summary
The study of fluid coating dynamics in non-Newtonian systems examines how complex fluids adhere to and spread over solid substrates under controlled mechanical action. Unlike Newtonian liquids, whose viscosity remains constant, non-Newtonian fluids exhibit shear-dependent viscosity, elastic recovery and yield stress behaviour, giving rise to rich flow phenomena in coating geometries such as roll-to-roll, gravure and calendering processes. Key factors include rheological parameters that govern shear-thinning or shear-thickening, the interplay of viscous and elastic forces, thermal effects on viscosity and surface tension, and the influence of operating conditions on coating thickness uniformity. Mathematical models frequently employ lubrication approximation theory to reduce the governing equations to tractable forms, enabling analytical or semi-analytical predictions of velocity profiles, pressure distribution and film thickness. These insights are vital for optimising industrial processes in printing, polymer film manufacture, biomedical devices and energy technologies, where precise control of layer uniformity, minimised material waste and desired functional properties are paramount.
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Fluid Coating Dynamics in Non-Newtonian Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fluid coating dynamics in non-newtonian systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Non-Newtonian fluid: Fluid whose viscosity changes with applied shear rate or stress, rather than remaining constant.
Lubrication approximation theory: Simplification of the Navier–Stokes equations for thin films, assuming flow is dominated by shear and pressure gradients across a small gap.
Shear-thinning: Behaviour whereby fluid viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate, common in polymer solutions and suspensions.
Viscoplastic fluid: Material that behaves as a solid below a yield stress and flows like a viscous fluid when that stress is exceeded.
Carreau fluid: Model of shear-thinning fluid with viscosity decreasing from a zero-shear plateau to an infinite-shear plateau as shear rate increases.
References
- Temperature-Dependent Viscosity Analysis of Powell–Eyring Fluid Model during a Roll-over Web Coating Process. Polymers (2024).
- Calendering of non-isothermal viscoelastic sheets of finite thickness: A theoretical study. Applied Rheology (2024).
- Gravure printing with a shear-rate-dependent ink. Flow (2024).
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