High-Shear Capillary Flow Behavior of Microfibrillated Cellulose Suspensions, TAPPICon26

This study investigates the high-shear capillary flow behavior of mechanically produced microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) suspensions at solids contents of 0.5–4.0 wt-%. While most prior rheological studies have focused on low shear rates, industrial processes often involve high deformation rates, beyond those available with rotational viscometers. Using capillary viscometry, the results reveal complex non- Newtonian behavior, including shear-thinning at low shear rates and shear-thickening at high shear rates, with evidence of turbulence damping similar to that observed in pulp fiber suspensions. Analysis with a yield-stress-based modified Reynolds number successfully collapses high-velocity flow data onto a master curve, indicating that disruption of the fibrillar network governs flow transitions. The findings demonstrate that engineering models developed for pulp suspension transport can be extended to MFC processing under high-shear, pressure-driven conditions.

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