Influence of molecular weight and molecular structure of polystyrenes on turbulent drag reduction

Abstract

An investigation was carried out on drag reduction of diluted solutions on nine linear polystyrenes of different molecular weight in toluene in the turbulent region (from 5,000 to 40,000 Reynolds numbers). The universal curve established byVirk et al. is only confirmed for very low concentration depending on the molecular weight and on the Reynolds number. If the “maximum drag reduction” varies with the molecular weight according to previous results, the “intrinsic concentration” shows a dependence with the cube of the molecular weight. This type of dependence explains the observed effects of the polydispersity and degradation. Moreover, no critical molecular weight below which no drag reduction occurs is observed. The study of PS samples with non-linear structure shows the total ineffectiveness of these structures giving support to the suggestion that an elongation of the polymer in the turbulent flow is responsible for the drag reduction. From the comparison between Polyox and PS properties it is concluded that both polymers have a comparable effectiveness and degradability when compared to the same DP or to the same [η].