The intention of this study is to investigate the evolution and transition of lyotropic lamellar phase and the formation of multi-lamellar vesicles (MLVs) under shear flow, since the shear technology can be used to produce well defined multi-lamellar vesicles which are useful for encapsulating drugs in medical or research fields. The system was designed to stabilize and track one single multi-lamellar vesicle, which is being sheared under Couette shear flow between two co-rotational disks, by using polarizing microscope and a LabView program. For the whole system, most parts of the hardware instrument and all the software programs were originally designed and homemade, which makes this a unique undertaking. Eighty percent of the time was spent on designing, assembling, testing and improving the hardware instrument and software programs to make sure the system can achieve our aim as accurately as possible. The lyotropic lamellar phase sample is made of pentanol, dodecane, SDS and water. Nine different concentrations from 16% to 32% of SDS+Water were explored under five different shear rates from 3.3 to 13.2 . Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is a kind of surfactant which has an amphiphilic molecular structure, and a certain liquid crystal structure (such as a lamellar phase) will be formed when it is dissolved in a water/oil mixture solvent. It is a great achievement that one single multi-lamellar vesicle is able to be followed for over 20 minutes under shear, and it is found that the multi-lamellar vesicle does not exhibit any obvious changes with time once it was already formed. Three different structural regions were found for the dilute lamellar phase while evolving to the multi-lamellar vesicle orientation state under shear. However, only two regions were found for the lamellar phase with higher concentrations under low shear rate since the lamellar phase will not reach to the multi-lamellar vesicle state. Besides, on the basis of the results of these experiments, it can be concluded that either higher shear rate or higher concentration of SDS+Water will hasten the formation of multi-lamellar vesicles. For the transition time of reaching a uniform multi-lamellar vesicle orientation state, it can be reduced by increasing shear rate. In addition, the results show that the transition time is decreasing more slowly for high concentrated lamellar phases than dilute lamellar phases with increasing the shear rate.

Cette thèse porte sur l'effet de l'incorporation du polymère adsorbant polyéthylène glycol (PEG) sur les propriétés structurelles et élastiques des mésophases lamellaires lyotropes. En particulier, ces phases lamellaires dopées au polymère sont d'un grand intérêt pour la compréhension des interactions inter-membranaires médiées par la macromolécule. Dans un premier temps, le module élastique de courbure des membranes a été étudié le long de plusieurs lignes de dilution de polymère. Il a été obtenu à partir des mesures des couplages quadrupolaires par spectroscopie de résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) à l'état solide de deutérium des molécules de cotensioactif perdeuteré incorporée dans la membrane. En présence du polymère adsorbé, nous avons constaté que la valeur du module élastique de courbure augmentait d'environ 20% dès que la solution de polymère était semi-diluée. Deuxièmement, nous discutons le coefficient de diffusion du polymère dans l'eau et confiné dans la phase lamellaire. La structure des mésophases a été étudiée par diffusion aux petits angles par rayons X et par microscopie électronique après cryofracture. Finalement, les mesures directes du module de compressibilité des mésophases lamellaires ont également été réalisées. / This thesis deals with the effect of the incorporation of the adsorbing polymer polyethylene glycole (PEG) on the structural and elastic properties of lyotropic lamellar mesophases. In particular, these polymer doped-lamellar phases are of great interest for understanding the intermembrane interactions mediated by the macromolecule. Firstly, the bending elastic modulus of the membranes has been investigated along several dilution lines of polymer. It was obtained from the measurements of quadrupolar splittings by deuterium solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the perdeuterated cosurfactant molecule embedded in the membrane. In the presence of the adsorbed polymer the value of the bending elastic modulus was found to increase of about 20% as soon as the polymer solution becomes semi-diluted. Secondly, the diffusion coefficient of the polymer in water and confined in the lamellar phase is discussed. The structure of the mesophases was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering and freeze-fracture electon microscopy. Finally, the direct measurements of the compressibility modulus of the lamellar mesophases were also carried out.

Dans cette thèse, on a étudié les propriétés rhéologiques et moussantes de phases de bicouches, de type lamellaire et éponge, en utilisant le système expérimental SDS/hexanol/saumure. On a également préparé des mousses avec ces deux phases de bicouches, dont on a étudié la stabilité et les mécanismes d’évolution dans le temps. En premier lieu, les propriétés rhéologiques de la phase éponge ont été examinées. Les échantillons ayant une fraction volumique de membrane phi ≥ 0.08 se comportent comme des fluides Newtoniens. Avec les moins concentrés, phi = 0.05 et 0.024, un changement de viscosité est observé à environ 1000 et 100 s⁻¹, respectivement. Ce changement pourrait être lié à une transition de la phase éponge vers une phase lamellaire induite par cisaillement. Les changements de viscosité qui suggèrent une transition éponge-lamellaire induite par l’écoulement ont été plus facilement détectés pour l'échantillon de fraction volumique phi = 0.024. Pour cet échantillon, il a été constaté qu’à des températures plus basses ou lors de l’ajout d’un polymère hydrosoluble (PEG), la variation de la viscosité liée à la transition de phase éponge-lamellaire se produit à des valeurs inférieures de la vitesse de cisaillement. L’étude des propriétés rhéologiques de la phase lamellaire a ensuite été menée. Les expériences ont révélé le comportement de gel faible des échantillons. A une fréquence de 10 rad/s et dans un intervalle de température compris entre 5 à 50 °C, il n’y a aucun changement perceptible des modules G’ et G’’, donc pas de transition de phase, sauf pour les échantillons les moins concentrés : dans ce cas, la température a un effet plus marqué, et la structure lamellaire évolue probablement. Lorsque le taux de cisaillement augmente, il a été observé que les échantillons avec phi ≥ 0.10 présentent une forte augmentation de la viscosité à partir d’une valeur seuil du taux de cisaillement. Cette observation, combinée avec des résultats de Rhéo-SAXS, a permis de conclure qu’il y a une transition vers une phase de vésicules (ou oignons) induite par l’écoulement. Les expériences de Rhéo-SAXS ont montré que, après l’arrêt du cisaillement, la phase de vésicules relaxe vers la phase lamellaire initiale au bout d’un temps typique d’une demi-heure. Enfin, des mousses ont été obtenues par incorporation de bulles d’air dans les phases lamellaire et éponge précédemment étudiées. Les mousses faites avec les phases lamellaires présentent une grande stabilité, probablement en raison de la viscosité élevée de ces gels. De plus, ces gels présentent des contraintes seuils d’écoulement faibles. Lorsque les bulles sont petites, la contrainte seuil est supérieure à la contrainte de pesanteur sur les bulles de la mousse (force d’Archimède). Mais ces bulles grossissent avec le temps (mûrissement dû aux différences de pression de Laplace entre bulles) et lorsque la contrainte de pesanteur dépasse la contrainte seuil du gel, le drainage de la mousse commence. On a constaté que la taille des bulles évoluait avec le temps en suivant une loi de puissance. Cependant, l’exposant (≈ 0.25) est plus petit que ceux trouvés pour le mûrissement d’Ostwald (0.333, valable pour des bulles isolées) ou le mûrissement des mousses (0.5). Le fait que l’exposant trouvé soit plus petit pourrait être lié à la réorientation des domaines lamellaires lors du mûrissement. Enfin, les mousses préparées avec des phases éponge présentent une faible stabilité probablement due aux passages internes entre bicouches qui forment la structure éponge, passages qui pourraient faciliter la coalescence des bulles. Deux scénarii ont été détectés lors de l’évolution de ces mousses: à basse fraction volumique de membrane, l’effondrement de la mousse commence pendant son drainage, alors que les mousses faites avec les échantillons les plus concentrés ont le temps de mûrir avant de s’effondrer. / In this thesis a study of the rheological and foaming properties of the lamellar and sponge phases of the SDS/hexanol/brine system was performed. Shear rate and temperature sweeps were done to analyze the rheology of the lamellar and sponge phases, adding frequency sweeps for the lamellar phase samples. Also, foamability and foam stability tests of foams made with these two phases were done. Sponge phase samples with membrane volume fractions phi ≥ 0.08 showed a Newtonian behavior, whereas in the less concentrated ones, phi 0.05 and 0.024, a change in viscosity was seen at shear rate values near to 1000 and 100 s ⁻¹, respectively. This change can be linked to a shear induced transition sponge to lamellar phase. Results indicate that temperature and the addition of the hydrosoluble polymer PEG affect the shear rate value at which this transition occurs. Lamellar phase samples with phi ≥ 0.10 presented a sharp increase in viscosity at intermediate shear rate values. The standard rheology technique together with Rheo-SAXS experiments allowed us to infer that there is a shear induced phase transition to vesicle phase. Rheo-SAXS data confirmed that the average interlamellar vesicle phase decreases by the effect of shear rate, and, when shear is stopped, the vesicle structure is relaxed and goes back to the lamellar phase after certain time. Foams made with lamellar phase samples showed a high stability and it was found that the time evolution of the bubble diameter follows a power law equation with exponents smaller than those reported for coarsening and Ostwald ripening. The small values of these exponents seem to be related with orientation defects of the liquid crystalline phase. On the opposite, the foams made with the sponge phase samples presented poor stability, as a possible consequence of the passages that form their structure that could facilitate coalescence of bubbles.

Les lubrifiants à base aqueuse sont très largement utilisés dans les procédés de mise en forme des métaux comme le tréfilage, car ils combinent d’excellentes capacités calorifiques à de bonnes propriétés tribologiques. Pour répondre à des exigences d’augmentation de la productivité, la compréhension des mécanismes de lubrification est nécessaire. L’objectif de ces travaux est d’établir le lien entre l’organisation des molécules en solution dans le lubrifiant et son pouvoir lubrifiant. La démarche expérimentale consiste à déterminer les propriétés structurales et tribologiques d’un système modèle aqueux, composé d’acides gras et d’éthylène diamine, principaux ingrédients des lubrifiants. Le diagramme de phases du système modèle est établi en s’appuyant sur des techniques de microscopie optique de polarisation, diffusion des rayons X aux petits angles (DXPA) et cryofracture. Pour un rapport molaire entre la diamine et les acides gras supérieur à 1, une succession de phases lamellaire, hexagonale et micellaires, biréfringente sous écoulement et isotrope, est observée avec la dilution. Une attention particulière est accordée à la phase lamellaire qui présente des défauts à l’approche de la transition vers la phase hexagonale. Les analyses réalisées en DXPA, cryofracture et RMN relient leur existence à une modulation de l’épaisseur de la bicouche et une augmentation de la courbure liées au couplage entre les acides gras et les contre-ions amines. Les propriétés lubrifiantes de l’ensemble de ces phases sont également comparées à l’aide d’un tribomètre qui réalise un contact entre un disque et une bille sous une cinématique de contact contrôlée, en régime de lubrification élastohydrodynamique. En plus des mesures de frottement, l’observation simultanée du contact permet de suivre la formation du film lubrifiant entre les surfaces et son évolution. L’influence de l’organisation supramoléculaire du lubrifiant sur son comportement est mise en évidence : les échantillons présentant une organisation lamellaire fournissent les meilleurs résultats en termes de réduction du frottement. L’organisation en bicouches de la phase lamellaire au sein du contact et ses propriétés piézovisqueuses peuvent expliquer sa portance accrue et sa prédisposition naturelle à la réduction du frottement. / Water based lubricants are widely used in metal forming processes due to their good cooling and lubrication capabilities. The understanding of the lubrication mechanisms is necessary to improve the current lubricant efficiency. The goal of this work is to correlate the structural properties of the lubricant to its lubricating behaviour. As mixtures of ethylene diamine and fatty acids in water are some of the main ingredients of such lubricants, their phase behaviour and tribological properties are investigated for different compositions. The phase diagram of the model system is established by using optical microscopy of polarisation, small angle X-rays scattering (SAXS) and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM). For a molar ratio between diamine and fatty acids upper to 1, a succession of lamellar, hexagonal and micellar phases is observed with the dilution. A particular attention is turned to the lamellar phase which presents defects close the transition towards the hexagonal phase. According to SAXS, nuclear magnetic resonance and FF-TEM analyses, we propose that their existence is due to a modulation of the bilayer thickness and an increase of the curvature resulted from the evolution of the coupling between the fatty acids polar heads and the amine counter-ions. The lubricating ability of these phases is then investigated experimentally using an EHL tribometre that simultaneously enables contact visualisation, film thickness and friction measurements in controlled kinematic conditions. The influence of the lubricant structure on its tribological behaviour is revealing: the lowest friction coefficients are obtained with lamellar samples. The organisation in bilayers of the lamellar phase within the contact and its piezoviscous properties can explain its greater load-bearing capacity and its natural predisposition to the reduction of the friction.

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules which self-assemble at the interface in oil-water-surfactant mixtures such that the hydrophobic part, called tail, stays in oil and the remaining part, called head, resides in hydrophilic en-vironment. Depending upon concentration of individual components, these mixtures form several microphases, such as bilayers, micelles, columnar and lamellar phases. A lamellar phase, at equilibrium, is made up of alternat-ing layers of water and oil separated by surfactants, or of alternate layers of water and surfactant bilayers such that the hydrophilic heads are in contact with water. This equilibrium state is rarely achieved in macroscopic samples due to thermodynamic and kinetic constraints; instead, a lamellar fluid is usually disordered with a large number of defects. These defects have significant effect on the flow behaviour of the lamellar mesophase systems. They are known to alter the flow field, resulting stresses and in turn could get distorted or annihilated by the flow. In present work, we analyse this two way coupling between lamellar structure and flow field. The structural and rheological evolution of an initially disordered lamellar phase system under a shear flow is examined using a mesoscale model based on a free energy functional for the concentration field, which is the scaled difference in the concentration between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic components. Two distinct modes of structural evolution are observed depending only on Peclet number, which ratio of inertial forces to mass diffusivity, in-dependent of system size. At low Peclet number, local domains are formed which are then rotated and stretched by shear. A balance between defect creation and annihilation is reached due to which the system never reaches the equilibrium layer configuration. In the opposite limit, partially formed layers break and reform so as to form a nearly aligned lamellar phase con-figuration with residual defects. Viscosity of lamellar phase system increases with layer moduli, differences in viscosity of individual components, fluidity of the lamellae due to shear banding and defect pinning. These factors however, do not have any effect on alignment mechanism.

La structure et les interactions qui stabilisent des empilements lamellaires lyotropes de bicouches lipidiques "poilues" (et dépourvues de charge électrique nette) dans leur état fluide sont principalement étudiées par diffusion de rayons X aux petits angles. Les empilements lamellaires sont utilisés comme matrices hôtes afin de confiner et d’encapsuler des nano-bâtonnets d’ADN qui s’auto-assemblent en différentes structures en fonction du confinement réalisé. L’objectif fixé est de comprendre l’origine des mécanismes qui sont responsables de la formation de tels assemblages supramoléculaires. Dans ce but,on s’intéresse aux mécanismes entropiques et interfaciaux, sensibles expérimentalement à la physico-chimie du système, cette dernière affectant notamment le caractère "lié"ou "non lié" des systèmes lamellaires à haute dilution. Un modèle thermodynamique est utilisé afin d’interpréter la décroissance exponentielle "classique" observée dans les profils de pression osmotique en fonction de l’hydratation, sans faire appel à la force"d’hydratation". Une transition structurale est mise en évidence, à faible hydratation,entre deux phases lamellaires "liées". Le changement structural de la bicouche est discuté en termes de couplage entre confinements vertical et latéral. La caractérisation de la matrice lamellaire hôte autorise finalement une description des organisations des bâtonnets d’ADN qui semblent directement corrélées aux propriétés physiques des bicouches, faisant ainsi apparaître quelques perspectives pour leur encapsulation au sein "d’ognons". / Structure and interactions stabilizing the lyotropic lamellar stack of (electrically-neutral)mixed "hairy" lipid bilayers in their fluid state are mainly investigated by means of small angleX-ray scattering. The lamellar stacks are used as hosts to confine and encapsulate DNA nanorods which organize themselves into different structures depending on the confinement.The challenge here is to understand the mechanisms responsible for the formation of these supramolecular assemblies. In this aim, we are interested in entropic and interfacial mechanisms which are both experimentally sensitive to the physical-chemistry of the system, changing in particular the “bound” or “unbound” character of the waters wollen systems. A thermodynamic model is then used for interpreting the “classical”exponential decay obtained in osmotic profiles as a function of hydration, without resorting to “hydration forces”. A structural transition between two different “bound” lamellar phases is brought out at low hydration. The bilayer structural changes are discussed as resulting from a coupling between lateral and vertical confinements. The lamellar host characterization finally allows a description of the DNA nanorods organizations which seem to be directly correlated to the physical properties of the bilayers, leaving some perspectives for the encapsulation inside “onions”. / A estrutura e as interações, que estabilizam os empilhamentos lamelares liotrópicos dasmembranas lipídicas em seu estado fluido, são estudadas principalmente por espalhamento de raios-x a baixos ângulos. As membranas “peludas” (eletricamente neutras) são compostas de uma mistura em diversas proporções de lecitina, um fosfolipídio zwiteriônico, ede simulsol, um cotensoativo etoxilado não iônico similar a um copolímero dibloco (curto). Esses empilhamentos lamelares são utilizados como matrizes hospedeiras, com o intuito deconfinar e de encapsular nanobastões de DNA que se auto organizam em diferentes estruturas,em função do confinamento aplicado. O objetivo fixado é de compreender aorigem dos mecanismos responsáveis pela formação dessas organizações supramoleculares,não regidas pelas interações eletrostáticas. Dessa forma, nos interessamos aos mecanismos entrópicos e interfaciais, que são ligados à elasticidade membranar e às interações mais específicas que intervêm nas interfaces membrana-membrana ou DNA-membrana. Aabordagem experimental consiste em modificar os diferentes parâmetros físico-químicosda matriz hospedeira, como a hidratação do sistema, a natureza química do cotensoativo (blocos hidrofóbicos e/ou hidrofílicos) e a proporção de cotensoativo no interior da membrana.O cotensoativo tem então uma função chave para modificar os dois mecanismos,perturbando o estado “ligado” ou “não-ligado” em sistemas lamelares altamente diluídos.Um modelo termodinâmico é utilizado para interpretar o decréscimo exponencial “clássico”observado para os perfis de pressão osmótica, quando se aumenta a hidratação, semutilizar a “força de hidratação”. Uma transição estrutural é evidenciada, à baixahidratação, entre duas fases lamelares “ligadas”. A mudança estrutural da membranaé discutida graças ao acoplamento entre confinamento lateral e vertical, em analogia àconhecida transição “escova-cogumelo” induzida pelo confinamento lateral, relevante paralongos polímeros lineares funcionalizados em superfícies rígidas [10]. A caracterizaçãoda matriz lamelar hospedeira permite, finalmente, uma descrição das organizações dosbastões de DNA que parecem diretamente correlacionados com as propriedades físicasdas membranas, deixando, então, algumas perspectivas para sua encapsulação no interiorde estruturas semelhantes a ”cebolas”.

Une étude expérimentale sur la structure et la dynamique d'un complexe hydraté de fragments d'ADN (150 pb) et des phases lamellaires de lipides non-cationiques est présentée. Par la variation de d'hydratation, il est possible de contrôler le confinement imposé par cette matrice hôte sur les nucléotides insérés dans les couches aqueuses. L’organisation supramoléculaire du complexe est suivie par diffraction des rayons-X et des techniques de microscopie optique et électronique. Un riche polymorphisme de mésophases est observé en fonction du confinement. Dans le régime plus hydraté, les fragments se distribuent selon une orientation nématique. Dans la mesure où la quantité de l'eau diminue, le confinement des bicouches sur les nucléotides monte et des corrélations trans-membranaires donnent origine à des phases hautement organisées, avec de symétries rectangulaires et hexagonales (2D) d'ADN dans la phase lipidique. L'incorporation totale des nucléotides par la phase lamellaire est observée uniquement lorsque des grandes quantités d'ADN y sont présentes. Ce fait souligne une importance majeur des interactions de volume exclu. Une analyse du paramètre de Caillé montre que l'insertion des fragments diminue les fluctuations des membranes. À partir des ces observations, il est suggéré que la modification des interactions stériques entre des lamelles, associée à des effets interfaciaux ADN-membranes, est un mécanisme important dans le comportement de phases. Les propriétés dynamiques sont étudiés avec la technique de retour de fluorescence après photo-blanchiment (FRAP). Un modèle développé récemment pour l'analyse de diffusion anisotrope est testé avec succès, démontrant une corrélation proche entre structure et dynamique. / An experimental study on the structural and dynamical properties of a hydrated DNA-non-cationic complex is presented. By varying the water amount, it is possible to control the confinement imposed by this host matrix over the organization of the nucleotides inserted within the water layers. The supramolecular assembly is investigated by X-rays diffraction and techniques involving both optical and electron microscopy. A rich polymorphism of mesophases is observed in function of confinement. In the more hydrated regime, the fragments are distributed according to nematic orientation in-between lamellae. As the water amount decreases, the confinement of bilayers over the particles increases and transmembrane correlations appear, giving raise to highly-ordered phases, with 2D-rectangular and -hexagonal symmetries of DNA embodied in the lamellar phase. The full incorporation of nucleotides by the lamellar phase is observed only in the presence of large amounts of DNA. This finding points to major importance of excluded volume interactions. An analysis of the Caillé parameter shows that the insertion of DNA reduces the fluctuations of membranes. From these observations, it is suggested that changes in the interactions between bilayers, together with the appearance of interfacial effects between DNA and membranes, are a mechanism relevant for the phase behavior of these systems. The dynamical properties of nucleotides are investigated through the fluorescence recovery after photobleach (FRAP). A model recently developed for analyses of anisotropic diffusion is sucessfully tested, demonstrating a close relationship between structure and dynamics. / Um estudo experimental sobre aspectos estruturais e dinâmicos de um complexo hidratado de fragmentos de DNA (150 pb) e fases lamelares de lipídios não-catiônicos é apresentado. Variando-se a hidratação, é possível controlar o confinamento imposto por essa matriz hospedeira sobre os nucleotídeos inseridos na camada aquosa. O arranjo supramolecular do complexo é investigado por difração de raios X e técnicas de microscopia óptica e eletrônica. Um rico polimorfismo de mesofases é observado em função do confinamento. No regime mais hidratado, os fragmentos se distribuem segundo uma orientação nemática entre as membranas. À medida que a quantidade de água diminui, o confinamento das bicamadas sobre os nucleotídeos aumenta e correlações transmembranares aparecem, dando origem a fases altamente organizadas, com simetrias retangulares e hexagonais 2D de DNA entre as lamelas. A incorporação completa de nucleotídeos é observada apenas quando grandes quantidades de DNA estão presentes. Esse fato aponta para importância maior de interações de volume excluído. Uma análise do parâmetro de Caillé mostra que as flutuações das membranas diminuem com a inserção de DNA. A partir dessas observações, é sugerido que a alteração das interações entre membranas, aliada à aparição de efeitos interfaciais entre DNA e membranas, é um mecanismo relevante no comportamento de fase. As propriedades dinâmicas dos nucleotídeos são investigadas através da técnica de FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching). Um modelo recentemente desenvolvido para análise de difusão anisotrópica é testado com sucesso, demonstrando estreita correlação entre estrutura e dinâmica.

<p></p><p>This doctoral dissertation takes the reader through a journey where applied shear rheology and flow-velocimetry are used to understand the mesoscopic factors that control the flow behavior of three microstructured fluids. Three individual protocols that measure relative physical and mechanical properties of the flow are developed. Each protocol aims to advance the particular transformation of novel soft materials into a commercial product converging in the demonstration of the real the chemical, physical and thermodynamical factors that could potentially drive their successful transformation. </p> <p> </p> <p>First, this dissertation introduces the use of rotational and oscillatory shear rheometry to quantify the solvent evaporation effect on the flow behavior of polymer solutions used to fabricate isoporous asymmetric membranes. Three different A-B-C triblock copolymer were evaluated: polyisoprene-<i>b</i>-polystyrene-<i>b</i>-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (ISV); polyisoprene-<i>b</i>-polystyrene-<i>b</i>-poly(<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylacrylamide) (ISD); and polyisoprene-<i>b</i>-polystyrene-<i>b</i>-poly(<i>tert</i>-butyl methacrylate) (ISB). The resulting evaporation-induced microstructure showed a solution viscosity and film viscoelasticity strongly dependent on the chemical structure of the triblock copolymer molecules. </p> <p> </p> <p>Furthermore, basic shear rheometry, flow birefringence, and advanced flow-velocimetry are used to deconvolute the flow-microstructure relationships of concentrated surfactant solutions. Sodium laureth sulfate in water (SLE₁S) was used to replicate spherical, worm-like, and hexagonally packed micelles and lamellar structures. Interesting findings demonstrated that regular features of flow curves, such as power-law shear thinning behavior, resulted from a wide variety of experimental artifacts that appeared when measuring microstructured fluids with shear rheometry.</p> <p> </p> <p>Finally, the successful integration of shear rheometry to calculate essential parameters to be used in a cost-effective visualization technique (still in development) used to calculate the dissolution time of polymers is addressed. The use of oscillatory rheometry successfully quantify the viscoelastic response of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solutions and identify formulations changes such as additive addition. The flow behavior of PVA solutions was correlated to dissolution behavior proving that the developed protocol has a high potential as a first screening tool.</p><br><p></p>