title: Theory of activated-rate processes under shear with application to shear-induced aggregation of colloids.
abstract: Using an approximation scheme within the convective diffusion (two-body Smoluchowski) equation framework, we unveil the shear-driven aggregation mechanism at the origin of structure formation in sheared colloidal systems. The theory, verified against numerics and experiments, explains the induction time followed by explosive (irreversible) rise of viscosity observed in charge-stabilized colloidal and protein systems under steady shear. The Arrhenius-type equation with shear derived here, extending Kramers' theory in the presence of shear, clearly demonstrates the important role of shear drive in activated-rate processes as they are encountered in soft condensed matter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. alessio.zaccone@chem.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaccone
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gentili
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morbidelli
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D033081:Shear Strength; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D011506:Proteins