The viscosity of a thixotropic fluid changes with time under constant shear rate until reaching equilibrium. ... Thixotropy is sometimes desirable to provide resistance to flowing, such as to avoid or reduce losses or flow into a weak formation.

What is the significance of thixotropy?

Thixotropy is the term given to the reduction in resistance of sand with increased rate of shear, as opposed to dilatancy (where increasing shear force causes increased resistance). This is of particular significance for animals that burrow in sand, in that dilatancy makes burrowing impossible.

What is the role of thixotropy in formulation?

Thixotropic property plays a key role in liquid filling of hard gelatin capsules, and there is a positive relationship between the dispersed phase for the proper filling of molten dispersions into capsules and apparent viscosity of the formulation [59].