Concentration dependence of the linear viscoelastic properties of particlesuspensions

The response under small amplitude oscillatory deformations of a suspension of non-Brownian spheres dispersed in a viscoelastic fluid is investigated. The correspondence principle of linear viscoelasticity is used to derive a simple constitutive model from a model for a suspension in a Newtonian liq uid. The theory predicts that for a specific particulate system the concent ration dependence of the viscoelastic properties should collapse to a singl e master curve when the values are normalized with those of the carrier flu id alone. Measurements with the micro-Fourier rheometer using oscillatory s queeze flow are carried out on two suspensions of 60 and 80 mu m sized part icles dispersed in polymeric fluid and in silicon oil, and the master curve is verified.