[nc259]

I have been researching thixotrophic gels and I'm trying to find a substance that:

- Has very high viscosity at room temperature range (solid like)
- Dramatically reduced vicosity after agitation (develops blood or water-like consistency)
- Inexpensive/easily manufactured

Some ideas so far:

Bentonite clay solution: couldn't find a ratio that had enough of a differential between resting and agitated viscosity.

Ferric oxides:
http://skeptics.nz/journal/issues/26/how-to-make-the-miraculous-blood-of-st-januarius

Does anyone have any suggestions for what other substances I should be investigating? Or books/other resources that could be helpful? Thanks.

[P]

I can think of a fair few thixotropic things, but none that are actually solid before agitation. Ketchup is famously thixotropic - won't flow out of the bottle until you bash it, then it gushes out all over your chips.

Quick search suggests that some yoghurts can be nearly solid thixotropes and go liquid with stirring (need more stirring than just a quick stir though) and will revert back to solids slowly at rest.

[Arkcon]

- Dramatically reduced vicosity after agitation (develops blood or water-like consistency)

This property, right here, brings to mind the miracle of San Gennario's blood: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Januarius#Blood  The Skeptic's Dictionary has some other references for stimulating the effect:  http://skepdic.com/januarius.html