Rheology of polymer blends: linear model for viscoelastic emulsions

 Kerner's model for flow of composite elastic media is extended to an emulsion of viscoelastic phases with interfacial tension undergoing deformations of small amplitude. A privileged internal structure inside the suspended drops is discussed in terms of fluid circulation across the interface. It is shown that for usual drop radius and interfacial tension values of emulsions, the rheological behavior predicted by the model, with very simple expression for the complex shear modulus, is quantitatively similar to that predicted by Palierne's model. Predictions of the model are compared with experimental data obtained on a polystyrene/polyethylene blend sheared in a small-amplitude oscillatory mode. Received: 10 August 1998 Accepted: 18 December 1998