Shear damping function measurements for branched polymers

Daniel A. Vega, Scott T. Milner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present results for step-strain experiments and the resulting damping functions of polyethylene blends of different structures, including solutions of linear, star and comb polymers. Remarkably, an entangled melt of combs exhibits a damping function close to that for entangled linear chains. Diluting the combs with faster-relaxing material leads to a more nearly constant damping function. We find similar behavior for blends of commercial low density polyethylene LDPE. Our results suggest a simple picture: on timescales relevant to typical damping-function experiments, the rheologically active portions of our PE combs as well as commercial LDPE are essentially chain backbones. When strongly entangled, these exhibit the Doi-Edwards damping function; when diluted, the damping function tends toward the result for unentangled chains described by the Rouse model - namely, no damping.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3117-3136
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics
Volume45
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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