Mapping of the relaxation patterns of polymer melts with linear flexible molecules of uniform length

Abstract

The linear viscoelastic material functions of linear flexible polymers of uniform length are calculated from the BSW spectrum (Baumgaertel et al., 1990, 1992), and explicit analytic expressions are presented for several of the most common material functions for transient and dynamic experiments. However, numerical calculations are presented whenever needed. The BSW spectrum was determined from experimental G″, G″ data of two sets of molten polymers of narrow molecular weight distribution, polystyrene and polybutadiene. The purpose of the mapping is to show a wide range of viscoelastic behavior which otherwise is not available in such comprehensive form. Experimental check of these predictions is still needed in most cases. Also, some insight into the predictions for the non-linear (including the non-equilibrium) viscoelastic behavior is achieved by studying two particular experiments: the start-up of uniaxial extension at constant rate and the start-up of shear flow at constant rate.