Viscometric flows of polymeric melts treated according to the rational theory of Eckart's continuum. I. General theory

The purely rational theory of Eckart continua (i.e. elastic bodies with a variable relaxed state) is applied to viscometric flows of polymeric melts. The main assumptions are thermodynamic non-interaction of inelastic behaviour and of non-elastic stress, as well as elastic isotropy. After establishing the time-dependent differential equations of viscometric flow, these equations are simplified to a set of algebraic equations describing steady-state flow. From this we deduce two general equations connecting the three elastic steady-state viscometric functions which do not depend upon the elastic behaviour. The law of rubber elasticity used in this paper is described in the Appendix.     

Linear rheology of viscoelastic emulsions with interfacial tension

Emulsions of incompressible viscoelastic materials are considered, in which the addition of an interfacial agent causes the interfacial tension to depend on shear deformation and variation of area. The average complex shear modulus of the medium accounts for the mechanical interactions between inclusions by a self consistent treatment similar to the Lorentz sphere method in electricity. The resulting expression of the average modulus includes as special cases the Kerner formula for incompressible elastic materials and the Oldroyd expression of the complex viscosity of emulsions of Newtonian liquids in time-dependent flow.     

Quantitative evaluation of extrudate swell from viscoelastic properties of polystyrene

A theory of extrudate swell for short, intermediate or long dies is presented. In our experiment, we consider that the swelling phenomenon is mainly due to the recoverable elongational strain induced by the converging flow at the die entrance, as well as by recoverable shear strain originating within the die. From these concepts, an equation has been derived for the quantitative prediction of extrudate swell from the elastic material properties such as the entrance pressure drop, the relaxation modulus and the recoverable shear strain. Excellent agreement is found between predicted and measured values of extrudate swell obtained on commercial polystyrene melt, using capillaries of length-to-diameter ratios ranging from 1 to 20 and in a wide range of shear rates.     

Polymeric liquid sealing of a rotating shaft and rheological effects accompanying its functioning

A new type of contactless sealing of a rotating shaft based on use of normal stress effect developed on shearing in elastic polymeric liquids is reported. Physical phenomena accompanying sealing function, such as self-heating of a liquid, separation of polymer under strain from the walls by a water film, foaming of the polymer have been studied. The problem of polymer flow and of its self-heating between two coaxial disks has been considered; the problem serves as a basis for sealing calculations.     

Fragile networks and rheology of concentrated suspensions

Suspensions consisting of particles of colloidal dimensions have been reported to form connected structures. When attractive forces act between particles in suspension they may flocculate and, depending on particle concentration, shear history and other parameters, flocs may build-up in a three-dimensional network which spans the suspension sample. In this paper a floc network model is introduced to interpret the elastic behavior of flocculated suspensions at small deformations. Elastic percolation concepts are used to explain the variation of the elastic modulus with concentration. Data taken from the suspension rheology literature, and new results with suspensions of magnetic -Fe₂O₃ and non-magnetic -Fe₂O₃ particles in mineral oil are interpreted with the model proposed.Non-zero elastic modulus appeared at threshold particle concentrations of about 0.7 vol.% and 0.4 vol.% of the magnetic and non-magnetic suspensions, respectively. The difference is attributed to the denser flocs formed by magnetic suspensions. The volume fraction of particles in the flocs was estimated from the threshold particle concentration by transforming this concentration into a critical volume concentration of flocs, and identifying this critical concentration with the theoretical percolation threshold of three-dimensional networks of different coordination numbers. The results obtained indicate that the flocs are low-density structures, in agreement with cryo-scanning electron micrographs. Above the critical concentration the dynamic elastic modulus G was found to follow a scaling law of the type G ( _f - _f ^c ) ^f , where _f is the volume fraction of flocs in suspension, and _f ^c is its threshold value. For magnetic suspensions the exponent f was found to rise from a low value of about 1.0 to a value of 2.26 as particle concentration was increased. For the non-magnetic a similar change in f was observed; f changed from 0.95 to 3.6. Two other flocculated suspension systems taken from the literature showed a similar change in exponent. This suggests the possibility of a change in the mechanism of stress transport in the suspension as concentration increases, i.e., from a floc-floc bond-bending force mechanism to a rigidity percolation mechanism.     

A model for the thermorheological behavior of viscoelastic fluids

Using a power-law ansatz for the temperature dependence of the shear modulus on the level of internal variables, the thermorheological behavior is modeled for viscoelastic fluids of a special group of rheological constitutive equations (rate-type models). The model parameter introduced characterizes thermoelastic contributions. The relation between the model parameter and the physical quantities appearing in deformation processes is discussed. Based on the chosen temperature dependence of the shear modulus, thermodynamically consistent equations like the nonlinear rheological constitutive equation and the temperature equation are derived. The special cases of entirely entropy and energy elastic fluids are also considered. The thermorheological behavior (exo-, - or endothermal processes) of a viscoelastic fluid in a stress-growth experiment followed by relaxation is analyzed with respect to the model parameter.     

The unraveling of a polymer chain in a strong extensional flow

By assuming that in a strong extensional flow a polymer molecule in dilute solution is quickly driven into a folded or kinked state in which drag and entropic elastic forces dominate over the Brownian force, we derive kink dynamics equations that describe the unraveling of the molecule in the extensional flow. Solving these equations numerically, we find that although the ends of the chain move, on average, affinely in the flow field until the chain is unfolded to about 1/3 of its fully extended length, large viscous stresses are produced because the solvent must flow around nonextending strands of polymer that lie between neighboring kinks. These predictions are compared with available experimental data and with other theoretical models.     

An adaptation of finite linear viscoelasticity theory for rubber-like viscoelasticity by use of a generalized strain measure

In this paper a simplified three-dimensional constitutive equation for viscoelastic rubber-like solids is derived by employing a generalized strain measure and an asymptotic expansion similar to that used by Coleman and Noll (1961) in their derivation of finite linear viscoelasticity (FLV) theory. The first term of the expansion represents exactly the time and strain separability relaxation behavior exhibited by certain soft polymers in the rubbery state and in the transition zone between the glassy and rubbery states. The relaxation spectra of such polymers are said to be deformation independent. Retention of higher order terms of the asymptotic expansion is recommended for treating deformation dependent spectra.Certain assumptions for the solid theory are relaxed in order to obtain a constitutive equation for uncross-linked liquid materials which exhibit large elastic recovery properties.Apart from the strain energyW(I₁,I ₂), which alternatively characterizes the long-time elastic response of solids or the instantaneous elastic response of elastic liquids, only the linear viscoelastic relaxation modulus is required for the first-order theory. Both types of material functions can be obtained, in theory, from simple laboratory testing procedures. The constitutive equations for solids proposed by Chang, Bloch and Tschoegl (1976) and a special form of K-BKZ theory for elastic liquids are shown to be particular cases of the first-order theory.Previously published experimental data on a cross-linked styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and an uncross-linked polyisobutylene (PIB) rubber is used to corroborate the theory.     

Correlation between interfacial interactions and internal stresses in filled high density polyethylene

The stress relaxation and the creep behaviour of high density polyethylene (HDPE) filled with glass fibres, clay (plate-like particles) or CaCO₃ (particles with irregular shape) were measured in uniaxial extension at room temperature. It was observed that the addition of filler increased the internal stress level, as evaluated from stress relaxation data. This increase was larger than the corresponding increase in the (short-term) elastic modulus. This behaviour may be attributed to a reduced macromolecular mobility in the matrix material close to the filler surface, i.e. to formation of an interphase region in the HDPE-matrix. From the internal stress values, the thickness of this interphase region around each filler particle was estimated, assuming a uniform coverage of the particles. It was suggested that the amount of matrix material with reduced mobility (or the thickness of the interphase region) reflected the degree of adhesion between the filler and HDPE. The change in the internal stress level due to the incorporation of different fillers, which were surface treated in some cases, was also consistent with the observed creep behaviour.     

Messung der dynamischen Eigenschaften verdünnter Polymerlösungen

Zusammenfassung Ein neuartiges Rheometer zur Ermittlung der rheologischen Eigenschaften von Polymerlösungen im linear-viskoelastischen Bereich wird vorgestellt. Durch Anwendung der Laser-Doppler-Anemometrie, die eine im hydro-dynamischen Sinn störungsfreie Meßmethode darstellt, ist es möglich, niedrig-viskose bis hin zu wasserähnlichen Proben zu vermessen.Zur Bewältigung der in großer Zahl anfallenden Daten und Rechenoperationen findet ein Mikrocomputer-System Verwendung. Es erledigt im einzelnen die Aufgaben Versuchsablauf-Steuerung, Meßwerterfassung, Auswertung, Dokumentation und graphische Darstellung der Ergebnisse.Anhand von Messungen an newtonschen Flüssigkeiten werden der Funktionsnachweis erbracht und die Betriebsbereiche der Ringspaltsysteme unterschiedlichen Durchmessers ermittelt.Die viskoelastischen Eigenschaften von wäßrigen Polyethylenoxid- und Polyacrylamid-Lösungen niedriger Viskosität lassen sich über einen Frequenzbereich von 0,1 bis 100 Hz messen. Die Ergebnisse werden mit Hilfe der komplexen Viskositätsfunktion dargestellt. Daraus läßt sich als gleichwertige Darstellung das diskrete Relaxationsspektrum eines konkreten Stoffgesetzes gewinnen.

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A novel rheometer for determining the elastic characteristics of polymeric solutions in the linear-viscoelastic region is described. Laser-Doppler anemometry, which does not introduce hydrodynamic disturbances, is used to enable low viscosity liquids including water-like samples to be measured.A microcomputer system is utilized to control the experiments, store and analyse the measured data, and provide graphical representations of the results. Measurements on Newtonian liquids verified the validity of the method and allowed the operational regions of the annulus systems with different diameters to be determined.The elastic characteristics of low viscosity aqueous solutions of polyethyleneoxide and polyacrylamide can be measured at frequencies from 0.1 to 100 Hz. The results are presented using the complex viscosity function. As a result the discrete relaxation spectrum of a special material law can be obtained as an equivalent representation.

     

Shrinkage effect on polyethylene based blends

An experimental study of the shrinkage effect in low density-high density polyethylene blends, high density-high density polyethylene blends and low density polyethylene-ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer blends is presented. Viscosity measurements are also included.The strain recovery is analysed as the addition of the interfacial tension effect and the elastic recoverable strain. The results are compared with those obtained for other polyolefin blends observing that in the case of compatible systems as low density-high density polyethylene and high density-high density polyethylene blends the strain recovery and the viscosity follow approximately the additive rule. In the case of more incompatible systems like polyethylene-ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene-polypropylene and others very large recoveries were observed. The formation of minifibres of the dispersed phase during the preparation of the samples is suggested as responsible for the obtained results.     

Response of an elastic Bingham fluid to oscillatory shear

The response of an elastic Bingham fluid to oscillatory strain has been modeled and compared with experiments on an oil-in-water emulsion. The newly developed model includes elastic solid deformation below the yield stress (or strain), and Newtonian flow above the yield stress. In sinusoidal oscillatory deformations at low strain amplitudes the stress response is sinusoidal and in phase with the strain. At large strain amplitudes, above the yield stress, the stress response is non-linear and is out of phase with strain because of the storage and release of elastic recoverable strain. In oscillatory deformation between parallel disks the non-uniform strain in the radial direction causes the location of the yield surface to move in-and-out during each oscillation. The radial location of the yield surface is calculated and the resulting torque on the stationary disk is determined. Torque waveforms are calculated for various strains and frequencies and compared to experiments on a model oil-in-water emulsion. Model parameters are evaluated independently: the elastic modulus of the emulsion is determined from data at low strains, the yield strain is determined from the phase shift between torque and strain, and the Bingham viscosity is determined from the frequency dependence of the torque at high strains. Using these parameters the torque waveforms are predicted quantitatively for all strains and frequencies. In accord with the model predictions the phase shift is found to depend on strain but to be independent of frequency.Notation A plate strain amplitude (parallel plates) - A _R plate strain amplitude at disk edge (parallel disks) - G elastic modulus - m torque (parallel disks) - M normalized torque (parallel disks) = 2m/R ³₀ - N ratio of viscous to elastic stresses (parallel plates) =µ A/ ₀ ratio of viscous to elastic stresses (parallel disks) =µ A _R/₀ - r normalized radial position (parallel disks) =r/R - r radial position (parallel disks) - R disk radius (parallel disks) - t normalized time = t — /2 - t time - _E elastic strain - _P plate strain (displacement of top plate or disk divided by distance between plates or disks) - _PR plate strain at disk edge (parallel disks) - ₀ yield strain - _E normalized elastic strain = _E/₀ - _P normalized plate strain = _P/₀ - _PR normalized plate strain at disk edge (parallel disks) = _PR/₀ - ₀ normalized plate strain amplitude (parallel plates) =A/ ₀ — normalized plate strain amplitude at disk edge (parallel disks) =A _R/₀ - phase shift between _P andT (parallel plates) — phase shift between _PR andM (parallel disks) - µ Bingham viscosity - stress - ₀ yield stress - T normalized stress =/ ₀ - frequency     

Thermal expansivity of particulate composites: Interlayer versus molecular model

We continue the comparison of the results of an interlayer model, based on the theory of elastic continua, and a molecular model, derived from a theory of mixtures, previously presented in terms of bulk moduli K. We now derive expressions for the dependence of the thermal expansivity _c on the volume fraction _f of the filler, at low and elevated values of _f . Correspondencies between the characteristic parameters, viz. adhesion and repulsion ratios on the one hand, and interlayer content and thermal properties of matrix, filler, and layer, on the other, are examined. Since in the molecular theory both andK are derived from an equation of state, the identical set of parameters determines both functions and suggests correlations between them.     

Response of blood flow through an artery under stenotic conditions

This paper presents an analytical study on the behavoiur of blood flow in an artery having a stenosis. This is basically formulated through the use of a suitable mathematical model. The arterial segment under consideration is simulated by an anisotropically elastic cylindrical tube filled with a viscous incompressible fluid representing blood. The analysis is carried out for an artery with mild local narrowing in its lumen forming a stenosis. Particular emphasis has been paid to the effect of the surrounding connective tissues on the motion of the arterial wall. Blood is treated as a Newtonian fluid. The analysis is restricted to propagation of small amplitude harmonic waves, generated due to the flow of blood whose wave length is large compared to the radius of the arterial segment. The effect of the shape of stenosis on the resistance to blood flow has been well illustrated quantitatively through numerical computations of the resulting expressions. A quantitative analysis is also made for the variation of the phase velocity, as well as the velocity of wave propagation and the flow rate, in order to illustrate the applicability of the model.     

The molecular theory of viscoelasticity for thermoplastic elastomer SBS (SIS) at large deformations

A microstructure model for SBS and SIS triblock copolymers with hard domains as multifunctional reinforcing fillers is proposed. Based on this model and proposed mechanism of large deformations, the probability distribution function of the end-to-end vector for each constituent chain and the free energy of deformation for the total networks was calculated by the combination of statistical thermodynamics and kinetics. A new molecular theory of non-linear visco-elasticity for SBS and SIS at large deformations is presented. It is successful in relating the viscoelastic state to molecular constitution by three important parameters (C ₁₀₀,C ₀₂₀, andC ₂₀₀) of the networks. The relations of stress to strain for four types of deformation, the elastic modulus and the constitutive equation for the stress relaxation were derived from this theory. It provides a theoretical foundation for studying the relationships of multiphase network structures and mechanical properties at large deformations. An excellent agreement between the theoretical relationships and experimental data from the experiments and the reference was obtained.Project supported by the National Natural Foundation of China     

Does N 1 or N 2 control the onset of edge fracture?

The edge fracture instability which occurs at the air/liquid interface in a cone-and-plate rheometer is studied for six elastic polymer solutions. Theoretical models for the onset of edge fracture are evaluated in light of the experimental data. The data are well-described by the Tanner-Keentok model, which predicts that fracture will occur whenever a critical value of the second normal stress difference is exceeded in magnitude.     

Elastic recovery and polymer-polymer interactions

i) Elastic recovery in polymeric liquids is a cooperative phenomenon in the sense that individual polymer molecules undergoing retraction must interact with one another in order to generate recovery. Stress generated by polymer molecules under an externally imposed flow field may or may not be a cooperative phenomenon. We suggest that the ability to describe the large elastic recovery exhibited by many polymeric liquids furnishes a crucial test of the validity of methods used to model the interaction of a given polymer molecule with its neighbors. Temporary-junction network models appear to be capable of explaining observed recoveries. Elastic recovery cannot be explained by single-molecule-in-a-mean-field theories which involve no calculation of the effect of the single molecule on the mean field. ii) A Gaussian network theory equation for the change of volume with elongation for a cross-linked elastomer is generalized in order to allow the bulk compliance to depend on elongation. iii) It is proved that two classes of flow history, namely shear-free and shear, are constitutively independent in the sense that, for a given viscoelastic liquid of unknown constitutive equation, the behavior in one class cannot be predicted from rheological measurements (however extensive) made solely in the other class.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. J. Meissner on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Instabilities in multi-hole converging flow of viscoelastic fluids

Studies of the onset of instabilities were conducted on single hole and multi-hole contractions using laser speckle visualization. A well characterized elastic fluid was used with constant viscosity of 13.1 Pa · s and elasticity characterized by a longest relaxation time constant of 2.233 s. The onset of instabilities was characterized in terms of the Deborah number and the contraction ratio. Three types of instabilities were observed: pulsing vortices, azimuthally rotating vortices, and swirling vortices. For the single hole contractions the critical Deborah number for instability increased from 4.4 to 5.07 to 5.25 as the contraction ratio increased from 4: 1 to 8: 1 to 12: 1. The magnitude of the instabilities was much greater for the 4: 1 contraction than for the other two contraction ratios. For the multi-hole contraction a square array of nine holes was used and the ratio of the hole diameter to hole spacing was varied. The height of the vortices is very similar for the single hole and multi-hole contractions at low Deborah numbers. At high Deborah numbers the effect of adjacent holes is to reduce the height of the vortices by a factor of three. For the 4: 1 spacing no secondary vortex was observed below a Deborah number of De = 3.7. Secondary vortices occurred for the 8:1 and 10:1 spacing at all Deborah numbers. Unstable pulsing vortices appeared for all spacings at a critical Deborah number around 5.5. Adjacent holes decreased the strength of the unsteady vortex motions. The centerline velocities were measured for the multi-hole contraction at shear rates of 5, 30, and 300 s^–1. The elongational strain rates are similar at a low shear rate of 5 s^–1. As shear rate is increased the onset of stretching occurs closer to the plane of the contraction for the smaller contraction ratios.     

Compression creep of molten poly (butylene terephthalate)

Viscoelastic parameters of poly(butylene terephthalate) melt in compression creep have been measured in an Instron Capillary Rheometer. Bulk compression creep complianceB(t) shows plateau regions in the molten state and in the melt crystallized state, both decreasing with increasing stress. Shifting ofB(t) curves provides master curves suitable for analyzing the total (superposed elastic and viscous) bulk compression behavior.Volume viscosity decreases with both increasing stresses and compression rates but seems to be independent of temperature. Its values are larger than those from constant compression rate experiments, possibly due to the presence of elastic effects.     

Untersuchung der verdickung von latex-dispersionen durch ethylacrylat-methacrylsäure-copolymere

Zusammenfassung Es wurden dynamische and stationdre Scherversuche durchgeführt, um den Verdickungseinfluß von Copolymeren aus Ethylacrylat and 15, 40 bzw. 65 Gew. % Methacrylsdure auf Latex-Dispersionen aus Ethylacrylat mit 0 bzw. 1 Gew. % Acrylsaure zu untersuchen. Nach Überschreiten eines Schwellwertes der Verdickungsmittelkonzentration, welche mit dem Sauregehalt im Verdickungsmittel und im Latex abnahm, wurde ein starker Anstieg des Speicher-und Verlust-Moduls (G and G) sowie der Fließgrenze und der Thixotropie beobachtet. Gleichzeitig wurde ein Überwiegen der viskosen Eigenschaften sowie eine zunehmende Flockulationsfähigkeit des Verdickungsmittels festgestellt. Bei größerem Säuregehalt im Latex überwogen die elastischen Eigenschaften, gleichzeitig erhöhte sich die Bestandigkeit gegen Flockulation. Die Verdickungswirkung der unterschiedlich zusammengesetzen Systeme wird durch die Ausbildung einer Raumnetzstruktur erklärt. Das Flockulationsverhalten wird auf Änderungen der Ladung und des freien Volumens zurückgeführt.

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The thickening effect of latices of ethylacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers (15, 40, and 65 wt. % of the acid) on latices of ethylacrylate-acrylic acid copolymers (0 and 1 wt. % of the acid) was studied by using dynamic and steady shear flow measurement. It was found that beyond a certain concentration of the thickener the storage modulus G, the loss modulus G, the yield stress values, and thixotropic behavior rapidly increased. At the same time, viscous properties and the flocculation ability of the thickeners prevailed. On the contrary, an increase in acid content in the latex made the elastic properties and flocculation resistance of the system more pronounced. The thickening effect is explained by the formation of an ordered structure. The flocculation behavior is explained by changes of the electrical charge and the free volume.

Teilweise vorgetragen an der Jahrestagung der Deutschen Rheologischen Gesellschaft, 13.–15. Mai 1991, Berlin.