A novel method to correlate emulsion viscosity data

A novel method to correlate emulsion viscosity data is proposed. The proposed correlation method takes into account the effects of shear-rate, average droplet size, droplet size distribution, viscosity of continuous phase, and viscosity of dispersed phase, on the viscosity of emulsions. Experimental viscosity data on mineral oil-in-water and kerosene-in-water emulsions are used to develop the correlations. According to the proposed correlations, the relative viscosity of emulsions (eta(r))viscosity of emulsions (eta) is a function of particle Reynolds number (N-Re,N-p), volume fraction of dispersed-phase (phi), is a function of particle Reynolds number (N-Re,N-p), volume fraction of dispersed-phase (phi), maximum packing concentration of dispersed phase (phi(m)), and intrinsic viscosity ([eta]), provided that the capillary number (N-Ca) is small. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.