Rheology primer for nanoparticle scientists

Abstract

Mechanical properties are intrinsically related to the structures and dynamics of systems. The main tools to investigate mechanical properties are rheology and microrheology. Those techniques can focus on the macroscopic and microscopic mechanical properties of any kind of colloidal system and/or nanostructures. Several kinds of experiments can be conducted to study the mechanical properties of colloidal systems; however, their interpretation might not be always straightforward. Here, our purpose is to provide a simple guide for beginners on most common rheological experiments.