What are Shear-Thinning and Shear-Thickening Fluids?
Shear-thinning fluids decrease in viscosity with increasing shear rate, while shear-thickening fluids increase in viscosity with increasing shear rate. These behaviors are particularly relevant in nanotechnology applications where precise control over fluid flow is necessary. For example, in microfluidic and nanofluidic devices, the ability to manipulate fluid viscosity through shear forces can be used for controlled mixing, separation, and transport of fluids.
