Particle dynamics in the microchannel flow of Carbopol-based yield-stress fluids

Yield-stress fluids, widely used in industrial applications such as cement pastes and lithium-ion slurries, primarily consist of dense particulate systems that form networks. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted on their rheological properties and non-Newtonian flow dynamics. Concurrently, lateral particle migration in channel flows has attracted interest because of its impact on the non-homogeneous particle distribution, which affects final product quality. However, lateral migration in a yield-stress fluid with confined geometry remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, the lateral motion and spatial distribution of micrometer-sized beads in microchannels of a carbopol solution were investigated. Owing to their tunable rheological properties and optical transparency, carbopol microgel solutions have been used as model fluids to study particle dynamics. A dual-view i…