Streaming birefringence

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-011469",
  "term": "Streaming birefringence",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The phenomenon where an optically isotropic fluid becomes birefringent when subjected to a shear flow. This occurs due to the orientation of anisotropic molecules or particles within the fluid under the influence of the flow field. It is used to study the shape, size, and flexibility of macromolecules in solution, particularly polymers.",
  "synonyms": [
    "flow birefringence"
  ],
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "isometric"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 61 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/streaming-birefringence/"
}