Exploring Molecular Mechanisms for Spurt Flow Instability, Sharkskin-like Surface Melt Fracture and Interfacial Slip

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ABSTRACT Proposal Number: CTS-9632466 Principle investigator: Wang This project is aimed at developing a fundamental understanding of the melt fracture and flow instability phenomena of linear polyethylene resins. Specifically, experiments are proposed to unravel the molecular origin of spurt flow behavior and sharkskin formation. Experiments will be conducted under both controlled piston speed and constant pressure conditions. Geometry and surface dependent phenomena will be studied. The unique feature of the investigation is that the subject of melt flow instability and extrudate fraction involves a highly non-linear coupling between bulk constitutive properties and hydrodynamic boundary conditions at melt/wall and melt/melt interfaces. The proposed effort goes beyond the continuum approach and will attempt to link with micro-molecular physics. The results of this research will have wide applicability in the polymer processing industry.