A new method to predict the maximum packing fraction and the viscosity of solutions with a size distribution of suspended particles. II

A new analysis technique has been developed in this paper to evaluate the upper limit of the packing fraction, φ n utilized in the prediction of suspension viscosities. The semiempirical equation developed for the upper limit of the packing fraction, φ n was generated initially from McGeary's binary particle packing fraction data. All possible D x /D y ratios of particles size averages were evaluated and analyzed in this formulation development. Only the D 5 /D 1 and D 4 /D 2 ratios of particle diameter averages were found to accurately predict the proper particle volume fraction location obtained in McGeary's data for the correct upper limit packing fraction φ n . After developing methodology to calculate φ n for binary particle distributions, an extension was made to include distributions with any number n of different particle size diameters. One of the more general of the suspended particle viscosity equations, as developed in a previous paper by this author, was used to demonstrate the application of this new φ n methodology to the evaluation of suspension viscosity properties. The blended binary suspension viscosity results of Johnson and Kelsey for near monodisperse latexes were shown to be satisfactorily predicted as a function of the binary volume composition.