ISM Collaboration on Relaxation in Soft Materials

Figure from the paper showing X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) measurement of instantaneous local relaxation events in an arrested gel in a quiescent state, and in a mechanically perturbed state via compression. The quiescent state results in homogeneous dynamics across the observation time of the experiment (with underlying Gaussian statistics), and the mechanically perturbed state results in intermittent dynamics (with underlying non-Gaussian statistics).

Recently, ISMSM Faculty Member Professor Emanuela Del Gado , has put forward a new paper in a collaboration led by researchers from MIT, and including Argonne National Lab, John Hopkins, and NC State. “Microscopic dynamics underlying the stress relaxation of arrested soft materials ” was published July 19, 2022 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research investigates the link between rearrangement events on the microscopic scale and stress relaxation behavior on the macroscale in arrested soft gels, revealing both quiescent and perturbation-induced microscopic relaxation mechanisms.

To read more, visit the Argonne National Laboratory website.