We report on the shear-thickening transition observed in dilute aqueous solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate (CTAT) at concentrations φ ∼ 0.2%. We have re-examined the kinetics of the shear-thickening transition using start-up experiments at rates above the critical shear rateγc. Using simple well-defined protocols, we have found that the transient mechanical response depends dramatically on the thermal and on the shear histories. Using the same protocols, flow birefringence experiments were carried out. The gap of a Couette cell containing the sheared solution has been visualized between crossed polarizers in steady shear conditions, as well as in start-up experiments. We show that the birefringent shear-induced phase starts from the inner cylinder and grows along the velocity gradient direction, as in a shear banding situation. However, aroundγ c we have not observed a regime of phase coexistence (isotropic and birefringent).
The flow birefringence and the rheological properties of four viscoelastic solutions having nearly the same zero shear viscosity and subjected to shear flows are investigated in the linear and non-linear domains. The surfactant used for the samples is the cetyltrimethylammonium chloride in water at the concentration of 100 mmol/l with an organic salt, the sodium salicylate. The low shear viscosity curve versus the salt concentration is non-monotonic and has two maxima separated by a minimum forming four domains in which the salt concentration is chosen. For the two solutions belonging to the inner branch, i.e. between the two maxima, a simple Maxwellian behaviour is observed and shear banding occurs as confirmed by the flow birefringence pictures. Contrary to the results of P. Fisher (1996) where the unstable flow regime is restricted to the first decreasing part of the low shear viscosity curve of a cetylpyridinium chloride solution, we show that shear banding exits in a wider domain of the salt concentration.
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