Objectives: Development of methods that yield novel data on colloidal gels and can be used in industrial & academic R&D to study colloidal gels non-invasively is highly desired, and part of InProcess-LSP’s mission. Optical-Coherence-Tomography(OCT) offers ~100 kHz depth-resolved scattering and cross-sectional imaging. InProcess-LSP pioneered an OCT-based Path-Resolved DLS instrument for simultaneous diffusion, particle size, flow measurement in turbid systems. Further, novel OCT imaging modalities allow to resolve other structural and dynamical aspects on hitherto inaccessible length/timescales and, importantly, in actual processing conditions. In this project the DC project will advance the current state of the art Rheo-OCT methods, by (i) coupling OCT and rheometry for measurements in controlled shear and advancing inprocess measurement geometries and (ii) developing novel spatiotemporal OCT analysis methods to spatially map structuring/diffusion/concentration of agitated colloidal gels. This will be applied to study both model and industrial (pharma and catalyst) colloid & colloid-polymer gels. Results will be compared to rheo-microscopy, Rheo-DLS/SALS and 3D(CC)-DLS performed at CoCogel partners, to address complementarity and industrial value of the novel measurement methods. The DC will be based primarily at InProcess-LSP, Oss, Netherlands and will be granted a PhD from Dusseldorf University after successful completion of a PhD thesis.
Academic secondment: UDUS (6M/M20 - M25) develop fluorescent CoPlxmodel systems for rheo-confocal microscopy characterization; TUD (4M/M26 - M29)Work with acousto fluidics for Rheo-OCT on bubble induced CoGel-dynamics; FORTH (6M/M30-M35) applying Rheo-DLS / SALS/ 3D (CC) - DLS to CoPlxgels and compare to Rheo-OCT/SR-DLS.
Industrial secondments: ADV (1M/M19):Work on processing of catalytic inks/gels to map to Rheo-OCT
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