High frequency shear ultrasonic properties of water/sorbitol solutions

• Published in: Ultrasonics 2010, Vol.50 (1), p.6-8
• Main Authors: Camara, V. Cereser, Laux, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustical properties of liquids; Computer Simulation; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Coupling fluid; Elastic Modulus; Electronics; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Glass transition; Light; Materials Testing - methods; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Models, Chemical; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry - methods; Phase Transition; Physics; Scattering, Radiation; Shear Strength; Solutions; Sorbitol; Sorbitol - analysis; Sorbitol - chemistry; Ultrasonic properties; Ultrasonography - methods; Viscoelasticity; Viscosity; Water - analysis; Water - chemistry
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2009.08.002

Dynamic viscoelastic properties ( G′ and G′′), ultrasonic shear velocity and attenuation were measured for aqueous solutions of sorbitol at 5 MHz. For pure sorbitol, the shear ultrasonic velocity reached 1470 m s −1 with a density of 1500 kg m −3, consequently leading to a high acoustical impedance compared with “classical” polymers (polystyrene, nylon, polyethylene, Teflon, etc.). We demonstrate that this surprisingly high shear ultrasonic velocity for a viscoelastic material was due to the fact that the glass transition begins at a concentration above 85% of sorbitol in water. Hence, pure sorbitol is an ideal coupling material for high frequency shear experiments.