Simulations of Steady Shearing Flows

The viscosity of PI-14-5CN exhibits a Newtonian behavior at low y values and then shear thinning behavior, while the first normal stress difference Ni is positive over the entire range of y tested at three temperatures in the nematic region. The absence of region I in the t) plots might be due to the fact that PI-14-5CN is a side hain LCP, and its nematic behavior is not sufficiently strong. The above observation supports the view [7] that region I in the t) plots for various LCPs is associated with the existence of domain structure. 

The fitting curves for plots of log t] versus log Y are shown as70°C (solid line),80°C (long dash line), and 90°C (short dash line). The same curve symbols are used for fitting plots of log N versus log y at different temperatures. 

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