Many factors affect the stability of structured fluids. The
viscosity of the liquid phase in dispersions usually plays
an important role on the flow properties of the material.
Dispersions have wide variations in performance depending
on particle size, shape, concentration, and any attraction
with the continuous phase in which they are suspended.
When there is a repulsive electrostatic or steric force between
particles they end not to settle rapidly, instead forming
a network structure which will stabilize the suspension if
undisturbed. Shearing or even Brownian motion can destroy
this delicate structure and break down the fluids viscosity