Chloe Zhang
Hair conditioners are known to contain ingredients such as polymers, which are chemical compounds made of small repeating units called monomers. Polymers are used to make plastic, and some people have wondered if using conditioner coats hair strands in plastic. In materials science, a Bingham plastic is a viscoplastic substance that acts like a solid when under low stress but flows like a fluid when under high stress. This is due to the interaction of particles or large molecules, such as polymers, creating a weak structure that requires a certain amount of stress to break. So, is hair conditioner a Bingham plastic?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A viscoplastic material that behaves as a rigid body at low stresses but flows as a viscous fluid at high stress |
| Named After | Eugene C. Bingham |
| Common Examples | Toothpaste |
| Flow | Requires finite yield stress before they start to flow |
| Stress-Strain Relationship | Linear |
| Parameters Required | Two (yield stress and the slope of the line, known as the plastic viscosity) |
| Mathematical Model | Yes |
| Used In | Drilling engineering, slurry handling, drilling fluid hydraulics |
| Fluid Type | Non-Newtonian |
| Texture | Can have a textured surface with peaks and ridges |
| Polymers | Contain large molecules such as polymers |
| Conditioner Ingredients | Silicones, fatty conditioners, oils |
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What You'll Learn
- Conditioners contain polymers that reflect light, making hair shiny
- Polymers are used to make plastic, but not all polymers are plastics
- Bingham plastics are viscoplastic materials that behave as rigid bodies at low stress
- They are used as a mathematical model for mud flow in drilling engineering
- Bingham plastics require two parameters to describe their flow: yield stress and plastic viscosity
Conditioners contain polymers that reflect light, making hair shiny
It is true that some hair conditioners contain polymers, which are chemical compounds made of small repeating units called monomers. These polymers are used in conditioners for their reflective qualities, which make hair shiny. However, not all polymers are plastics. For instance, polypropylene is a plastic polymer used in packaging materials, but Polyquaternium-7, a hair-conditioning agent, is also a polymer with very different properties.
Polymers in conditioners coat the hair strands, smoothing the cuticle and allowing light to reflect evenly, making hair appear shiny. When the shingles of the hair cuticle become loose, light reflects unevenly, making hair look dull. Therefore, shine-enhancing ingredients focus on smoothing the cuticle.
Silicones, such as dimethicone, are excellent conditioners that smooth the hair cuticle. However, they have received some negative attention. Fatty conditioners like stearalkonium chloride are good lubricants for hair and can be identified by ingredients ending in "-ium chloride".
Natural oils such as mineral, meadow foam seed, avocado, and coconut are also effective shine enhancers. These oils work best in leave-in products as they are not chemically modified to remain on the hair after rinsing. Henna is another natural product that enhances shine by helping the cuticle lay flatter, creating smoother strands that reflect light better.
While polymers in conditioners can make hair shiny, it is important to note that excessive use of certain conditioners can lead to ashy and dull hair. Thus, it is essential to find the right balance in the amount used.
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Polymers are used to make plastic, but not all polymers are plastics
While polymers are used to make plastic, not all polymers are plastics. Polymers are vast molecules formed by repeating units known as monomers. They can be either natural or synthetic, with a wide range of applications, from fabrics to DNA. The term "polymer" comes from the Greek words "poly", meaning "many", and "mer", meaning "repeating unit". On the other hand, plastics are a subset of synthetic polymers that can be molded or shaped. The word "plastic" is derived from the Latin "plasticus" and the Greek "plastikos", both of which mean "capable of molding".
The process of creating plastic involves several steps. Firstly, raw materials such as crude oil and natural gas are extracted and processed. Then, the refining process converts crude oil into different petroleum products, yielding monomers, which are the basic building blocks of polymers. Subsequently, hydrocarbon monomers undergo chemical polymerization to produce polymers, resulting in thick, viscous substances like resins. These resins are then used to make plastic products. For instance, ethylene monomers, when subjected to heat, pressure, and catalysts, form long, repeating carbon chains, creating a plastic resin called polyethylene.
It is important to distinguish between polymers and plastics, especially in the fields of research, design, and production. The term "plastic" often becomes a catch-all phrase due to its association with cheap, lightweight, and ubiquitous items like water bottles and food containers. However, this generalization fails to capture the diversity and capabilities of polymers. For example, Thordon specializes in engineered polymers that exhibit resilience, low wear, and excellent performance, even in challenging conditions. Their polymers function effectively in wet environments and are designed for longevity, particularly in marine applications.
Additionally, polymers are used in hair conditioners to enhance shine and smoothness. Certain polymers, such as Polyquaternium-7, are created by combining specific monomers, resulting in unique physiochemical properties. These polymers smooth the cuticle of the hair, allowing light to reflect evenly, creating a shiny appearance. While polymers are present in hair care products, it is important to note that the Bingham Plastic Model primarily relates to non-Newtonian fluids used in the drilling industry. This model describes the behavior of fluids that exhibit a linear stress-strain relationship and require a finite yield stress to initiate flow.
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Bingham plastics are viscoplastic materials that behave as rigid bodies at low stress
Bingham plastics are characterised by their linear stress-strain relationship and their requirement for a finite yield stress before they begin to flow. This is in contrast to Newtonian fluids, which only require the parameter of viscosity to describe their flow. The Bingham plastic model is a two-parameter model that includes yield stress and plastic viscosity. The yield point of Bingham plastic fluids can be calculated using specific equations.
The Herschel-Bulkley model is another model used to describe non-Newtonian fluids, which are widely used in the drilling industry. These non-Newtonian fluids exhibit thixotropic behaviour, where apparent viscosity decreases with time after the shear rate is increased. This shear-thinning property is desirable in drilling operations as it allows for reduced circulating pressure during normal drilling and increased viscosity to suspend drill cuttings during circulation breaks.
While hair conditioners may contain polymers, which are also found in plastics, it is unclear if hair conditioners can be specifically classified as Bingham plastics. Polymers are chemical compounds made up of small repeating units called monomers, and different combinations of monomers can result in polymers with distinct properties. For example, polypropylene is a common plastic, while Polyquaternium-7 is a hair-conditioning agent, both of which are polymers with distinct physiochemical properties.
In conclusion, Bingham plastics are viscoplastic materials that exhibit unique rheological behaviour, characterised by their resistance to flow until a certain yield stress is exceeded. While hair conditioners may contain polymers similar to those found in plastics, it is uncertain if they specifically exhibit the characteristics of Bingham plastics.
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They are used as a mathematical model for mud flow in drilling engineering
Bingham plastic is a viscoplastic material that acts as a rigid body under low stress but flows as a viscous fluid when the stress is high. It was named after Eugene C. Bingham, who first proposed its mathematical form in 1916. A common example of a Bingham plastic is toothpaste, which does not extrude from its tube until a certain pressure is applied.
Bingham plastics are used as a mathematical model for mud flow in drilling engineering. Drilling mud does not follow a particular fluid model exactly, but one or more fluid models can be used to predict its flow behaviour. The Bingham plastic model is the most commonly used model to determine the rheology of non-Newtonian fluids. Rheological models are critical for a drilling fluid study because they are used to simulate the characteristics of drilling mud under dynamic conditions. The Bingham plastic model assumes that the shear rate is a linear function of the shear stress. The point where the shear rate is zero is called the yield point or threshold stress, and the slope of the shear stress and shear rate curve is called the plastic viscosity.
The Bingham plastic model is used to calculate the pressure drop in an established piping network. Once the friction factor is known, it becomes easier to handle different pipe-flow problems, such as calculating the pressure drop for evaluating pumping costs or finding the flow rate in a piping network for a given pressure drop. The friction factor for Bingham plastic fluids can be determined using the Swamee-Aggarwal equation and the Darby-Melson equation, which can be combined to give an explicit equation for any flow regime.
The Bingham plastic model is also used to determine key figures for drilling fluid studies, such as equivalent circulating density, pressure drops in the system, and hole-cleaning efficiency. The drilling fluid has three flow regimes: plug flow, laminar flow, and turbulent flow. The Bingham plastic model produces acceptable results for a drilling mud diagnosis but is not accurate enough for hydraulic calculations.
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Bingham plastics require two parameters to describe their flow: yield stress and plastic viscosity
Bingham plastics are viscoplastic materials that behave as rigid bodies at low stresses but flow as viscous fluids at high stress. They are commonly used to model mud flow in drilling engineering and the handling of slurries. For instance, toothpaste is a common example of a Bingham plastic, as it requires a certain amount of pressure to be applied to the tube before it is extruded.
The plastic viscosity, on the other hand, describes how the Bingham plastic flows once it has started flowing. It represents the slope of the line in a graph with shear stress on the vertical axis and shear rate on the horizontal axis. This graph illustrates the linear relationship between shear stress and shear rate for a Bingham plastic fluid.
The Swamee-Aggarwal equation and the Darby-Melson equation can be combined to determine the friction factor of Bingham plastic fluids. The Bingham Plastic Model is commonly used in the drilling industry to examine the effect of very high shear rates and to understand the lower shear rate range. This model helps diagnose problems with drilling fluids and is useful for treating drilling fluids, but it is not suitable for calculating pressure losses or matching viscosities over a large range of shear rates.
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Frequently asked questions
A Bingham plastic is a viscoplastic material that behaves as a rigid body at low stresses but flows as a viscous fluid at high stress.
Some hair conditioners contain polymers, which are large molecules that can create a weak solid structure. This structure requires a certain amount of stress to break, similar to how Bingham plastics behave.
Common examples of Bingham plastics include toothpaste and drilling fluids. The Bingham plastic model is often used to describe the flow behaviour of these substances.
The Bingham plastic model is a two-parameter model that includes yield stress and plastic viscosity. It describes the linear stress-strain relationship of fluids that require a finite yield stress to start flowing.
Yes, the Power Law model, the Herschel-Bulkley model, and the Swamee-Aggarwal and Darby-Melson equations are all related to the study of non-Newtonian fluids and their flow behaviours.
