👉 The Bedford Fluid, also known as Bedford Slurry, is a high-viscosity, non-Newtonian fluid developed by researchers at Bedford University in the UK. It's a complex mixture primarily composed of water, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), and various additives like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylamide. This unique fluid exhibits shear-thinning behavior, meaning its viscosity decreases significantly under stress or shear forces, allowing it to flow easily when agitated or pumped but regain its thick consistency when at rest. This property makes it useful in diverse applications, including biomedical engineering for drug delivery and tissue engineering, and industrial processes like coating and lubrication, where controlled viscosity is essential.
