Slime Glossary

The terms on this page relate to the physical and chemical characteristics of SLIME as well as other fluids with comparable characteristics.

Dilatant fluid is rheopectic, which means sudden forces causes an increase in viscosity.

Fluid is a term used for anything that can flow; gases, liquids, and non-Newtonian fluids.

Newtonian fluid is a fluid whose viscosity is not affected by stress. Water is a Newtonian fluid.

non-Newtonian fluid is a fluid whose apparant viscocity changes with stress is applied.

Pseudoplastic is a non-Newtonian fluid whose viscosity decreases as the applied stress rate increases, a process that is also termed shear-thinning.

Rheology is the study of the flow of matter under conditions in which they flow rather than deform elastically. It applies to substances, such as:

Rheopectic is the apparant viscosity increases with duration of stress.

Shear describes a break in a material in response to a sudden force.

Shear-thickening fluids or fluids in which stress causes an increase in viscosity. Not common, slime is one example. When shear stress, such as quickly stirring or pulling the material apart, it shears (breaks).

Shear-thinning fluids or fluids in which stress causes a decrease in viscosity. For example, shaking ketchup makes it thinner and easier to pour.

Stress is a force that puts a strain on a material. It is a force on an area.

Stress rate describes how fast the stress is applied. An example of stress rate is how fast you stir a fluid or how fast you pull on it.

Thixotropic is the apparant viscosity decreases with duration of stress

Viscoelastic materials will deform and flow under the influence of an applied shear stress, but when the stress is removed the liquid will slowly recover from some of the deformation.

Viscosity is the measurement of the resistance a material has to flowing.

Viscous describes the the resistance a substance has to flowing; thickness.