Cylindrical Couette flow of Laponite dispersions

Taylor-Couette flow of aqueous dispersions of nanometric Laponite platelets was studied by dynamic light scattering and direct observation. Despite high rotation rates, gel growth was observed starting from the stator, and filling almost the whole gap after some period of time depending on the angular velocity of the rotor. SEM microscopy observations of the flowing liquid showed the presence of spheres in the micrometer range. A mechanism for gel growth is proposed, where lumps of gel are formed in the sheared liquid and form spherical aggregates which eventually adhere to the side of the gel, with a progressing gelling front. •Flow profiles of concentrated Laponite dispersions in Couette cell were measured.•The viscosity of sheared dispersions of Laponite displayed an increase in time.•A layer of gel growed despite the high shear rates.•A growth mechanism is proposed based on light scattering measurements.