title: Universal behaviour of silica suspensions gelled under shear.
abstract: The shear-influenced gelation of three aqueous suspensions consisting of silica particles of nominal diameter 7, 12 and 24 nm, respectively, is reported. It is shown that the viscosity/stress of a gelling system increases with time after gel initiation, reaches a maximum, then falls to a plateau value. A very simple relation between this maximum stress and the precursor volume fraction is verified experimentally.
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia. Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: H J M
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Muzny
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drabarek