Rheological Behavior of Granular Suspensions in Paste Processing
Summary
The rheology of granular suspensions underpins modern paste processing across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to ceramics and construction. This field examines how mixtures of micron-scale particles and binding fluids respond to stress, shear and compression. Central to these studies are the complex interplay of yield stress, shear-thinning behaviour and liquid phase migration within densely packed granular networks. Under low stress, pastes resist deformation, exhibiting a solid-like regime; once a threshold stress is surpassed, they flow with a viscosity that may decrease with increasing shear rate. The geometry of processing equipment, from extruder die angles to squeeze-flow plates, further influences particle rearrangement, inter-particle friction and the onset of phase separation. Emerging numerical models and experimental techniques, including finite element simulations and pressure-mapped rheometry, are extending the understanding of stress distributions, flow localisation and binder migration. Improved characterisation of these phenomena informs the design of extrusion dies, optimises energy consumption and enhances product uniformity, thereby driving global innovation in paste manufacturing.
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Rheological Behavior of Granular Suspensions in Paste Processing publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in rheological behavior of granular suspensions in paste processing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Granular suspension: A heterogeneous mixture of solid particles dispersed within a liquid binder.
Yield stress: The minimum stress required to initiate irreversible flow in a material.
Viscoplastic behaviour: A rheological response combining solid-like and fluid-like characteristics, with flow occurring only above a yield stress.
Liquid phase migration (LPM): The stress-driven separation of liquid from a particulate network within a flowing paste.
Squeeze flow: A rheometric technique where a sample is compressed between parallel plates to probe its normal force and deformation response.
References
- Modelling of paste ram extrusion subject to liquid phase migration and wall friction. Chemical Engineering Science (2017).
- Pressure mapped squeeze flow (PMSF): Extending rheological characterization of mortars beyond traditional rheometry. International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science (2023).
- Pressure and Liquid Distribution under the Blade of a Basket Extruder of Continuous Wet Granulation of Model Material. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing (2024).
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