The influence of molecular weight distribution on some properties of polystyrene melt

Abstract

AbstractThe viscosities of a number of monodisperse polystyrene melts have been measured using a capillary rheometer. The materials covered a molecular weight range of 43,000–460,000. Shear rates of 1.54–1540 sec.−1 and temperatures of 350–450°F. were studied. The effect of molecular weight distribution of polydisperse polystyrene was also measured. It was found that while low shear viscosity was dependent on Mw, higher shear melt viscosities depended on averages between Mw and Mn until at 1000–2000 sec.−1, Mn controlled viscosity. Agreement with the 3.4‐power dependence of zero shear viscosity was good. Similar exponential relationships were found, with higher rates of shear, corresponding to smaller values of the exponent. Constant values of the exponent were found at constant shear stress but not at constant shear rate. Agreement with the constancy of the activation energy for viscous flow for various molecular weights and distributions at constant shear stress was good. However at constant shear rate, ΔE decreased as the molecular weight average increased and as the distribution broadened. Viscosity versus shear rate master curves were constructed by using the Buehe‐Harding procedure. All monodisperse polystyrenes showed excellent fit with the master curve. Other molecular weight distributions did not. Master curves also were constructed for measurements of dynamic viscosity versus frequency for monodisperse polystyrene. These curves when compared to steady state viscosities failed to confirm the correspondence of ηa to either |η*| or to η′.