The effect of electric double layers, zeta potential and pH on apparent
viscosity of non-Brownian suspensions
Abstract
We carried out 3-D simulations of monodisperse particle suspensions
subjected to a constant shear rate with the view to investigate the
effect of electrical double layers around the particles on apparent
suspension viscosities. To this end, expressions for Debye length, zeta
potential and ionic strength (pH) of the liquid were incorporated into
our in-house lattice Boltzmann code that uses the Immersed Boundary
method and includes sub-grid lubrication models. We varied the solids
concentration and particle radius, keeping the particle Reynolds number
equal to 0.1. We report on results with respect to the effect of pH (in
the range 9 through 12) and Debye length on apparent viscosity and
spatial suspension structures, particularly at higher solids volume
fractions, and on the effect of flow reversals.