Abstract: By Surface force apparatus (SFA) technique, the rheological properties and dimension effects are studied. The experiments show hexadecane, which is typical Newtonian fluid in bulk state, exhibits the characteristics of shear thinning and the dependence of viscosity on frequency. In the transition from macro to micro-lubrication, the fluid shows nonlinear friction and elastic phenomena. These characteristics differ from those in the bulk and depend apparently on the film thickness. The fluid confined in molecularly thin films undergo a great change in its rheology.

Key words: Dimension effects, Fluid, Nanometer scale, Surface force apparatus Rheological properties