Rheology modification in mixed shape colloidal dispersions. Part I: pure components

The flow behaviour and rheology of colloidal dispersions are of considerable interest in many applications, for example colloidal clay particles find applications in oilfield and construction-drilling fluids. The rheological properties of such fluids can be enhanced significantly by adding colloidal particles of different size and shape. To gain insight into the mechanism of this phenomenon, we have studied model mineral-colloid systems whose shape changes systematically from a plate-like aluminasol (gibbsite), through a lath-like smectite clay (hectorite), to a rod-like aluminasol (boehmite).