화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.59, No.3, 543-556, 1996
Rheological Characterization of Controlled-Rheology Polypropylenes Using Integral Constitutive-Equations
Controlled-theology polypropylene melts were prepared via molecular modification of a commercial polypropylene resin. A peroxide-initiated degradation was performed, resulting in materials with different molecular weight distributions. These resins were subjected to theological characterization, and an integral constitutive equation of the K-BKZ type was used to study the effect of molecular weight characteristics on their theological properties. Data for the linear viscoelastic spectrum and shear viscosities was used to obtain the model constants. The same constitutive equation has been used to predict the stress and Trouton ratios for simple shear and simple elongational flows, thus giving a quantitative assessment of the viscoelastic character of the melts. The results show the effect of the molecular modification on the theological behavior of the melts. Polymers produced at higher peroxide concentrations exhibit reduced viscoelasticity manifested in less shear- and strain-thinning behavior. The present work clearly shows the potential of integral constitutive equations in fitting and interpreting experimental data and, thus, giving a much better understanding of the theological behavior of commercial polymers.