Dickungsfähigkeit

Dickungsfähigkeit refers to the ability of a substance to increase in viscosity or thickness when subjected to stress. This phenomenon is characteristic of non-Newtonian fluids, a broad category that includes many everyday materials. Unlike Newtonian fluids, where viscosity remains constant regardless of applied shear rate, Dickungsfähige substances exhibit a change in flow behavior. This means their resistance to flow is not uniform.

The specific mechanisms behind Dickungsfähigkeit vary depending on the material's composition. For instance, in suspensions of particles, the particles can become more densely packed under stress, leading to increased internal friction and thus higher viscosity. In polymer solutions, the entanglement of long polymer chains can become more pronounced under shear, hindering their movement and increasing thickness. This effect is often reversible, meaning the substance will return to its original lower viscosity state once the stress is removed.

Examples of materials demonstrating Dickungsfähigkeit include ketchup, which flows easily when shaken but thickens when left undisturbed, and certain types of paints and drilling fluids. Understanding Dickungsfähigkeit is important in various industrial applications, such as food processing, cosmetics, and manufacturing, where controlling the flow properties of materials is crucial for product quality and processing efficiency.