An approach to the estimation of polymer melt elasticity

An effective method has been proposed to estimate the primary normalstress difference versus shear rate curves at temperatures relevant to the processing conditions only from the knowledge of the melt flow index, the molecular-weight distribution and the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The method involves the use of a unified curve obtained by coalescing the elastic response curves of various grades in terms of the modified normal-stress coefficient ₁ (MFI)² and a modified shear rate . Unified curves have been reported for low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon.Nomenclature C ₁ constant in eq. (4) - J _e steady state compliance (cm²/dyne) - proportionality constant in eq. (6) - L load (kg) - L ₁ load (kg) at ASTM test conditions - L ₂ load (kg) at required conditions - MFI melt flow index (gm/10 min) - number average molecular weight - weight average molecular weight - z-average molecular weight - (z+1)-average molecular weight - n slope of the shear stress vs. shear curve on a log-log scale - N ₁ primary normal-stress difference (dynes/cm²) - Q molecular weight distribution expressed as - T ₁is> temperature (K) at condition 1 - T ₂is> temperature (K) at condition 2 - T _g glass transition temperature (K) - T _s standard reference temperature equal toT _g + 50 K - shear rate (s^–1) - ₀ zero-shear viscosity (poise) - apparent viscosity (poise) - density (g/cm³) - ₁₂ shear stress (dynes/cm²) - ₁₁– ₂₂ primary normal-stress difference (dynes/cm²) - _1,0 zero shear rate primary normal-stress coefficient (dynes/cm² · sec²) - ₁ primary normal-stress coefficient (dynes/cm² · sec²) - ₂ secondary normal-stress coefficient (dynes/cm² · sec²) NCL-Communication No. 3106