Objectives: DC5 will seed gels with acoustic contrast agents (e.g., nano-air bubbles acting as ultrasound receptor) to transform any gel into a rheo - acoustic gel. S/he will perform a comprehensive study of the effects of acoustic contrast agents’ concentration, size, and composition in various gels and track the acoustic contrast agent response to the ultrasound linking their dynamics to the gel structure (based on standard microscopy, SALS, or SAXS) and mechanical properties (based on rheology and microrheology). Finally, we will implement this concept in industrial systems with two aims: (i) ex-situ actuation of the sol/gel transition to ease the flow of gel products and avoid clogging (UNILUK); (ii) control of flow properties of cement paste thanks to nano-air bubbles or non-Brownian particle acting as local fluidizer (HIC).
Industrial secondment: DC5 will be at HIC (15M/M18-M32) during which s / he will use high-power ultrasound on industrial cement paste in order to control its flow behavior, while also analyzing prior work performed at CNRS. Moreover, secondment at UNILUK (3M) will allow DC5 to test for inline ultrasound-based unclogging of gels during processing of clay-based gels.
Academic secondments: TUD (0.5M/M14) to integrate expertise on bubble-induced restructuring of gels.
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