Flow of colloidal gels through constrictions

We use confocal microscopy to investigate the flow behavior of colloidal gels through constrictions of varying geometry. We flow suspensions of attractive silica colloids through microchannels containing a single constriction point. As the colloid volume fraction is increased, the colloids in the microchannels jam and form a clog. Here we investigate the flow properties and the clogging as a function of applied pressure, microchannel geometry, and the colloid volume fraction.