Comparison of the birefringence data obtained by rheo-optical techniques and by a polarized-light high speed camera

Abstract

The study of Non-Newtonian fluids has begun relatively recently. The behaviors of those fluids are complex, but their applications are numerous. The non-Newtonian fluids are present in every aspect of life, and they can be found in different fields such as food supply (ketchup, custard…), cleaning products (shampoo, toothpaste…), and medical (blood, saliva…) among others. Although they are very important, our knowledge about them is limited because their behavior is very complex. Various scientific studies have found a stress-optical relation (SOR). Although the SOR is not the inevitable consequence of a fundamental physical principle; rather, it is a very plausible hypothesis, which has extensive experimental support for polymer solutions and melts. Photron Company Limited is developing a new high speed camera called Polarized-light high speed camera (PHSC) that can record the intensity of polarized light and its orientation angle with very high frame rate. This camera has the advantage of been cheaper and easier to use than the traditional laser equipment. Although the laser equipment is more accurate, most of industrial uses do not need more accuracy than the PHSC. One objective of the project is to compare the data; flow-birefringence and its orientation angle, obtained with the PHSC and with the laser equipment during the flow in an abrupt expansion. The PHSC data were collected by Photron Company Limited in December 2010. The experiments conducted for this project, will be performed under exactly the same conditions. The other objective is to observe the evolution of the birefringence along the channel through the analysis of different points.