Stress-Temperature Effects on Transitions in PEO17PPO60PEO17 Triblock Copolymer Micellar Solutions

In this work, the shear thickening behavior of micellar solutions of the PEO17PPO60PEO17 triblock copolymer as a function of applied shear stress and temperature is reported. Both, dynamic light scattering and rheological measurements, confirm micellar growth upon increasing temperature and/or applied stress, after an induction time. A synergetic effect of temperature and stress on the intensity of shear thickening (up to three-order of magnitude) is demonstrated by a combination of T-jump experiments and application of shear stress. The effect of temperature on the induction and saturation times, detected during the viscosity rise after applying both, a T-jump and shear stress, is also examined.