Microelectrical tomography of flowing colloidal dispersions and dynamic interfaces

Abstract

Prospects for the use of microelectrical resistance tomography (MERT) for observing the dynamics of flowing colloidal dispersions in a small diameter tube are discussed. The results of experimental measurements on the effect of scaling-down existing ERT technologies to image single-step conductivity discontinuities generated using simple test objects within tubes down to 10 mm and 2 mm diameter are assessed. The distortion of the resolved images is shown to be dependent on the ratio of the size of the object being imaged to the tube diameter, the conductivity contrast between the object and the background fluid, and the anisotropy of the object. The application of the technology to colloid science and for the control of manufacture of dispersions is likely to have significant industrial implications for improved product formulation and characterization of products. © 1995.