Polymer rheology shear thinning

PTT exhibits melt rheological behavior similar to that of PET. At low shear rates the melt is nearly Newtonian. It shear-thins when the shear rate is >1000s 1 (Figure 11.10) [68], At the melt processing temperatures of PET, 290°C, and of PTT, 260°C, both polymers have similar viscosities of about 200Pas. However, PTT has a lower non-Newtonian index than PET at high shear rates. The flow behavior can be modeled by the Bueche equation, as follows ... 

Polymer rheology can respond nonllnearly to shear rates, as shown in Fig. 3.4. As discussed above, a Newtonian material has a linear relationship between shear stress and shear rate, and the slope of the response Is the shear viscosity. Many polymers at very low shear rates approach a Newtonian response. As the shear rate is increased most commercial polymers have a decrease in the rate of stress increase. That is, the extension of the shear stress function tends to have a lower local slope as the shear rate is increased. This Is an example of a pseudoplastic material, also known as a shear-thinning material. Pseudoplastic materials show a decrease in shear viscosity as the shear rate increases. Dilatant materials Increase in shear viscosity as the shear rate increases. Finally, a Bingham plastic requires an initial shear stress, to, before it will flow, and then it reacts to shear rate in the same manner as a Newtonian polymer. It thus appears as an elastic material until it begins to flow and then responds like a viscous fluid. All of these viscous responses may be observed when dealing with commercial and experimental polymers. 

Since homogenous melts are covered in a later account of pressure build-up and power input in the extruder (Chapter 7), this chapter confines itself to the flow behavior of homogenous unfilled polymer melts and on the introduction of the most important rheological parameters such as viscosity, shear thinning, elasticity, and extensional viscosity. The influence of these rheological properties on simple pressure- and drag flows is demonstrated, while the influence of rheological parameters on pressure build-up and power input in the extruder is described in more detail in Chapter 7. 

Rofe, C. J., Lambert, R. K., and Callaghan, P. T. (1994). Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of flow for a shear-thinning polymer in cylindrical Couette geometry. J. Rheology 38, 875-887. 

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