RHEOLOGY

Mr. Shiv Kumar M. Pharm

Faculty of Pharmaceutics
School of Pharmacy
Shri Venkateshwara University
Gajraula, UP
E-mail: [email protected]
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 CONTENTS
1. Definition and fundamentals.
2. Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Flows.
3. Thixotropic Behaviors.
4. Instrumentation.
5. Pharmaceutical Applications.
6. Viscoelasticity, Rheology of solids.
7. References.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Omer Al-Mukhtar University,
2014/03/09 2
Tobruk, Libya.
 DEFINITION OF
RHEOLOGY
• Rheology is the science/physics that concerns with
the flow of liquids and the deformation of solids.

• Study of flow properties of liquids is important for

pharmacist working in the manufacture of several
dosage forms, viz., simple liquids, gels, ointments,
creams, and pastes.

• These systems change their flow behavior when

exposed to different stress conditions. 3
FUNDAMENTALS OF RHEOLOGY
i. Manufacturing of dosage forms: Materials
undergo process such as mixing, flowing through
pipes, filling into the containers etc. Flow related
changes influence the selection of mixing
equipment.

ii. Handling of drugs for administration: The

syringibility of the medicines, the pouring of the
liquids from containers, extrusion of ointment from
tubes, all depend on the changes in flow behavior of
2014/03/09 4
dosage forms.
 NEWTONIAN AND NON-
NEWTONIAN FLOWS

Rheology

Newtonian Non - Newtonian

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 NEWTONIAN
FLOW
• Newton was the first to study the flow properties of
liquids in quantitative terms. Liquids that obey
Newton’s law of flow are called as Newtonian fluids.
F=nG
G

F
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 NON-NEWTONIAN
FLOW
• Non - Newtonian bodies are those substances, which
fail to follow Newton's law i.e. liquid & solid ,
heterogeneous dispersions such as colloidal solutions,
emulsions, liquid suspensions and ointments.
They are classified into 3 types of flow:
• Plastic.
• Pseudoplastic.
• Dilatant.

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RHEOGRAMS OF DIFFERENT
FLUIDS

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 PLASTIC
FLOW
• The plastic flow curve does
not pass through the origin
& it intersects the shearing
stress axis (or will if the
straight part of the curve is
extrapolated to the axis) at a
particular point referred to
as yield value. (f).

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 PSEUDOPLASTI
C FLOW
• The curve for a pseudoplastic
material begins at the origin (or
at least approaches it at low
rates of shear).

• The curved rheogram for

pseudoplastic materials is due
to shearing action on the long
chain molecules of materials
such as linear polymers.
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 DILATANT
FLOW
• Certain suspensions with a high
percentage of dispersed solids
exhibit an in resistance to flow
with increasing rates of shear.
• Such systems actually increase in
volume when sheared & are called
dilatant.
• Dilatant materials "shear thickening
systems."
• When the stress is removed, a
dilatant system returns to its original
state of fluidity. 11
 THIXOTROPIC
BEHAVIORS
▪ I t i s a c o mparatively slow
recovery, on standing of a
material which lost its
consistency through shearing."

▪ Thixotropy is only applied to

shear-thinning systems. This
indicates a breakdown of
structure (shear-thinning), which
does not reform immediately
when the stress is removed or
reduced . 12
 INSTRUMENTATION
Viscometer

Single/One point: Multipoint:

At a single rate of shear one Several rates of shear many
point on the curve points on the curve

Equipment: Equipment:
1) Ostwald viscometer 1) Cup and bob
2) Falling sphere viscometer 2) Cone and plate

Applications: Applications:
• Newtonian fluids • Non-Newtonian fluids
• Newtonian fluids
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 INSTRUMENTATION
“One point" instruments

• Provide a single point on the rheogram.

• Extrapolation of a line through this point to the origin
will result in the complete rheogram.
• Used for Newtonian fluids.
• Since the rate of shear is directly proportional to the
shearing stress.
• The capillary and falling sphere are for use only with
Newtonian materials.
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OSTWALD VISCOMETER

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 OSTWALD
VISCOMETER
• Ostwald viscometer is used to determine the viscosity
of a Newtonian liquid. Both dynamic and kinematic
viscosities can be obtained.

• When a liquid flows by gravity, the time required for

the liquid to pass between two marks (A and B shown
in Figure) through a vertical capillary tube is
determined.

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FALLING SPHERE VISCOMETER

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 FALLING SPHERE
VISCOMETER
• The sample & ball are placed in the inner glass tube
& allowed to reach temperature equilibrium with the
water in the surrounding constant temperature
jacket.
• The tube & jacket are then inverted, which
effectively places the ball at the top of the inner
glass tube.
• The time for the ball to fall between two marks is
accurately measured & repeated several times.
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 INSTRUMENTATION
“Multi-point" instruments

• Used with non-Newtonian systems.

• The instrumentation used must be able to operate at a
variety of rates of shear.
• Cup and Bob , Cone and Plate viscometers may be
used with both types of flow system.

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CUP AND BOB
VISCOMETER

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 CUP AND BOB
VISCOMETER
• This is a multipoint viscometer and belongs to the
category of rotational viscometers.
• The sample is placed in the cup and the bob is placed
in the cup up-to an appropriate height.
• The sample is accommodated between the gap of cup
and bob.
• Cup or bob is made to rotate and the torque (shearing
stress) from the viscous drag is measured by a spring
or sensor in the drive of the bob.
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CONE AND PLATE VISCOMETER

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 CONE AND PLATE
VISCOMETER
• The sample is placed at the center of the plate which
is then raised into position under the cone.
• The cone is driven by a variable speed motor & the
sample is sheared in the narrow gap between the
stationary plate and the rotating cone.
• The rate of shear in rev./min. is increased &
decreased by a selector dial & the torque (shearing
stress) produced on the cone is read on the indicator
scale.
• A plot of rpm or rate of shear versus scale reading
(shearing stress) may be plotted. 23
 PHARMACEUTICAL
APPLICATIONS
1. The viscosity of creams and lotions may affect the rate of
absorption of the products by the skin.
2. A greater release of active ingredients is generally possible
from the softer, less viscous bases.
3. The viscosity of semi-solid products may affect absorption
of these topical products due to the effect of viscosity on
the rate of diffusion of the active ingredients.
4. The rate of absorption of an ordinary suspension differs
from thixotropic suspension.
5. Thixotropy is useful in the formulation of pharmaceutical
suspensions and emulsions. They must be poured easily
from containers (low viscosity) 24
 VISCOELASTICITY
• Viscoelasticity is the property of materials that
exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics
when undergoing deformation. Viscous
materials, like honey, resist shear flow and
strain linearly with time when a stress is
applied.

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 VISCOELASTICITY
1. With cone-plate geometry the sample appears to
‘roll up’ and at high shear rates and is ejected from
the gap.

2. With concentric cylinder geometry the sample will

climb up the spindle of the rotating inner cylinder
(Weissenberg effect).

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RHEOLOGY OF SOLIDS

Representation of flow of solid

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THANK YOU

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