Topics - Newtonian Flow
Under Newtonian flow the viscosity of a fluid is defined as the tangential force per unit area that will provide unit relative velocity between two parallel plates in the fluid unit distance apart. When the shear force exceeds a value characteristic of the material plastic flow
can occur but this rarely happens in chromatography. However, if the flow rapidly changes direction then turbulent flow
is introduced which is characterized by an increase in solute diffusiity and Newtonian flow no longer exists. The introduction of turbulent flow into connecting tubes (tubes between column and detector) reduces peak dispersion and, thus, maintains column resolution.