Non-Newtonian flow effects in supercooled water

Abstract

The viscosity of supercooled water has been a subject of intense study, in particular with respect to its temperature dependence. Much less is known, however, about the influence of dynamical effects on the viscosity in its supercooled state. Here we address this issue for the first time, using molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the shear-rate dependence of the viscosity of supercooled water as described by the TIP4P/Ice model. We show the existence of a distinct cross-over from Newtonian to non-Newtonian behavior characterized by a power-law shear-thinning regime. The viscosity reduction is due to the decrease in the connectivity of the hydrogen-bond network. Moreover, the shear thinning intensifies as the degree of supercooling increases, whereas the cross-over flow rate is approximately inversely proportional to the Newtonian viscosity. These results stimulate further investigation into possible fundamental relations between these nonequilibrium effects and the quasi-static Newtonian viscosity behavior of supercooled water.