Abstract

Polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PS/PVME) phase diagram was assessed by rheological tools and by on-line microscopy observations both under quiescent and shear flow conditions. Shear flow was found to induce both mixing and demixing of the mixture depending on the amplitude of the imposed shear rate. Viscoelastic properties of PS/PVME blends were also measured under steady shear flow near the phase separation temperature. At lower shear rate, flow enhances concentration fluctuation and induces phase segregation. At high shear rate, flow suppresses fluctuations and the polymer mixture keeps its miscible state. Several rheological signatures of phase transition were found. In steady shear flow, a secondary plateau in viscosity was observed when the temperature was close to Ts whereas, at the start-up shear flow, transient shear stress showed a second overshoot after a few minutes of shearing.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.