Elongational viscosity of LDPE with various structures: employing a new evolution equation in MSF theory

Abstract

Molecular stress function theory with new strain energy function is used to analyze transient extensional viscosity data of seven low-density polyethylene (LDPE) melts with various molecular structures as published by Stadler et al. (Rheol Acta 48:479–490, 2009) Pivokonsky et al. (J Non Newton Fluid Mech 135:58–67, 2006) and Wagner et al. (J Rheol 47(3):779–793, 2003). The new strain energy function has three nonlinear viscoelastic material parameters and assumes that the total stored energy of a branched molecule is given by different backbone and side chains stretching. The model parameters have been fitted for each LDPE in order to correlate with the supposed macromolecular structure expected from the type of synthesis. Most probable molecular structures for these LDPEs are comb and Cayley tree structures for respectively low- and high-molecular weight parts.