Paper to the Polymer Modelling Scales of Structures Conference, Institute of Physics, London

F G Torres and S F Bush

Abstract

A model proposed by Bush^{(1, 2)} has been extended and numerically implemented to produce molecular chain conformations in polymer flows. The effect of shear and extensional flows is studied. The chain shape is defined as a primary transport variable and viscosity is predicted thereof. Shear thinning of melt viscosity is verified in the simulations. The formulation can be extended to crystallisation and shrinkage studies.

References

[1] Bush S F, Polymer Model: Flow, Orientation and Crystallization, ICI Europa Ltd, Technical Note 55, 1975

[2] Bush S F, Representation of Polymer Chain Shape in Injection Moulding Simulation, Poly Proc Soc, PPS European Regional Meeting), Brunel University, UK, 18-19 September 1988

[3] Torres F G, Modelling of Polymer and Polymer Composite Flows: Molecular Chain Orientation and Reinforcing Fibre Orientation, MPhil Thesis, UMIST, Manchester, UK, 1997

[4] Agassant J F, Avenas P, Sergent J P and Carreau P J, Polymer Processing Principles and Modeling, Hanser Publishers, Munich, 1991

[5] Bush S F and Dyer P, The Experimental and Computational Determination of Complex Chemical Kinetics Mechanisms, Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, A. 351, pp 33-53, 1976