Rheological properties of aging thermosensitive suspensions

Aging observed in soft glassy materials inherently affects the rheological properties of these systems and has been described by the soft glassy rheology (SGR) model [S. M. Fielding et al., J. Rheol. 44, 323 (2000)]. In this paper, we report the measured linear rheological behavior of thermosensitive microgel suspensions and compare it quantitatively with the predictions of the SGR model. The dynamic moduli [G[prime](omega,t) and G[double-prime](omega,t)] obtained from oscillatory measurements are in good agreement with the model. The model also predicts quantitatively the creep compliance J(t−tw,tw), obtained from step stress experiments, for the short time regime [(t−tw)<tw]. The relative effective temperature [script X]/[script X]g obtained from both the oscillatory and the step stress experiments is indeed less than 1 ([script X]/[script X]g<1) in agreement with the definition of aging. Moreover, the elasticity of the compressed particles (Gp) increases with increased compression, i.e., the degree of hindrance and consequently also the bulk elasticity (G[prime] and 1/J) increases with the degree of compression

A radical approach to radical innovation

Innovation pays. Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google – nearly every one of today’s most successful companies has a talent for developing radical new ideas. But how best to encourage radical initiative taking from employees, and does their previous success or failure at it play a role

Breath figures under electrowetting: electrically controlled evolution of drop condensation patterns

We show that electrowetting (EW) with structured electrodes significantly modifies the distribution of drops condensing onto flat hydrophobic surfaces by aligning the drops and by enhancing coalescence. Numerical calculations demonstrate that drop alignment and coalescence are governed by the drop size-dependent electrostatic energy landscape that is imposed by the electrode pattern and the applied voltage. Such EW-controlled migration and coalescence of condensate drops significantly alter the statistical characteristics of the ensemble of droplets. The evolution of the drop size distribution displays self-similar characteristics that significantly deviate from classical breath figures on homogeneous surfaces once the electrically-induced coalescence cascades set in beyond a certain critical drop size. The resulting reduced surface coverage, coupled with earlier drop shedding under EW, enhances the net heat transfer.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Irrational Resistance or Irrational Support? Performance Effects of Project Leader Status

In this study, we explore the effects of project leader status in new product development projects. We predict and find that that project leader status increases project performance up to a certain point after which it decreases performance. Further, status increases the variability of project performance, that is, it leads to more extreme performance in both directions

Talk, talk, talk: Exploring idea conversations and the micro-level foundations of knowledge sharing for innovation

In this study we explore the drivers and consequences of micro-level instances of knowledge sharing for innovation. We do so by focusing on the temporally bounded conversations that colleagues have about new ideas and we study specifically how the strength of ties between these colleagues influences the duration and breadth of knowledge sharing in the idea-related conversations they have over time. A 14-month on-site field study in a multinational company, in which we mapped 496 dyadic relationships regarding 17 new product ideas, shows that knowledge sharing can be explained by the ties between people being either strong or weak, rather than intermediate. We also discover that characteristics of the idea itself shape how tie strength influences the duration and breadth of knowledge sharing in idea conversations. Finally, we provide initial evidence to show how important conversations are for the success of an idea. Our study sheds light on micro-level instances of knowledge sharing for innovation and provides important insights into how managers can foster an environment in which weak and strong ties can be utilised optimally for sharing knowledge about ideas

Characterizing the fluid-matrix affinity in an organogel from the growth dynamics of oil stains on blotting paper

Grease, as used for lubrication of rolling bearings, is a two-phase organogel that slowly releases oil from its gelator matrix. Because the rate of release determines the operation time of the bearing, we study this release process by measuring the amount of extracted oil as a function of time, while we use absorbing paper, to speed up the process. The oil concentration in the resulting stain is determined by measuring the attenuation of light transmitted through the paper, using a modified Lambert-Beer law. For grease the timescale for paper imbibition is typically 2 orders of magnitude larger than for a bare drop of the same base oil. This difference results from the high affinity, \it i.e. wetting energy per unit volume, of the oil for the grease matrix. To quantify this affinity, we developed a Washburn-like model describing the oil flow from the porous grease into the paper pores. The stain radius versus time curves for greases at various levels of oil content collapse onto a single master curve, which allows us to extract a characteristic spreading time and the corresponding oil-matrix affinity. Lowering the oil content results in a small increase of the oil-matrix affinity yet in a significant change in the spreading timescale. Even an affinity increase by a few per mill doubles the timescale

Talk, talk, talk: exploring idea conversations and the micro-level foundations of knowledge sharing for innovation

In this study we explore the drivers and consequences of micro-level instances of knowledge sharing for innovation. We do so by focusing on the temporally bounded conversations that colleagues have about new ideas and we study specifically how the strength of ties between these colleagues influences the duration and breadth of knowledge sharing in the idea-related conversations they have over time. A 14-month on-site field study in a multinational company, in which we mapped 496 dyadic relationships regarding 17 new product ideas, shows that knowledge sharing can be explained by the ties between people being either strong or weak, rather than intermediate. We also discover that characteristics of the idea itself shape how tie strength influences the duration and breadth of knowledge sharing in idea conversations. Finally, we provide initial evidence to show how important conversations are for the success of an i