Laboratory Capillary and On-Line Process Rheometers for the Polymer Processing Laboratory

聚合物的流变（流动和变形）性能是影响聚合物微观结构、聚合物生产加工的关键工艺参数以及随后产品质量的最重要因素。本项目的重点是获得一台计算机化的实验室毛细管流变仪（LCR）和在线过程流变仪（OLPR），使学生可以通过实验室测试和在线过程监测来实验研究和观察塑料的流变现象。几个实验室实验已经计划允许学生使用最先进的LCR/OLPR设备来研究(1)加工参数对聚合物熔体在加工过程中的流变性能和对最终产品的机械和物理特性的影响，(2)过程监控，控制，优化和自动化，(3)流变学中计算机仪器技术的应用。(4) LCR/OLPR在回收和可加工性分析中的应用；(5)使用统计技术进行流变数据分析；(6)LCR/OLPR与计算机辅助设计、制造和工程的集成。LCR/OLPR项目极大地提高了制造系统工程和机械工程课程中的材料工程和聚合物加工课程。它会直接影响到以下两门课程的学生：工程材料和聚合物加工。LCR/OLPR设备提供的数据对所有讨论高分子材料流变、物理和机械性能之间关系的课程都是有益的，例如材料表征、高分子科学、粘合剂技术和应用以及工业涂装技术。

Rheological (flow and deformation) properties of polymers are the most important factors affecting the microstructure of polymers, critical process parameters for polymer production and processing, and subsequent product quality. The focus of this project is the acquisition of a computer-instrumented laboratory capillary rheometer (LCR) and on-line process rheometer (OLPR) such that students can experimentally investigate and observe the rheological phenomena of plastics through laboratory testing and on-line process monitoring. Several laboratory experiments have been planned to allow students to use the state-of-the-art LCR/OLPR equipment to study (1) the effects of processing parameters on the rheological properties of a polymer melt during processing and on the mechanical and physical properties of final products, (2) process monitoring, control, optimization, and automation, (3) the application of computer-instrumented technology in rheometry, (4) the application of the LCR/OLPR in recycling and processability analysis, (5) rheological data analysis using statistical techniques, and (6) the integration of the LCR/OLPR with computer-assisted design, manufacture, and engineering. The LCR/OLPR project greatly enhances both the materials engineering and polymer processing programs in the Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering curricula. It can directly affect students enrolled in the following two courses: Engineering Materials and Polymer Processing. Data provided from the LCR/OLPR equipment can be beneficial to all courses in which discussions focus upon the relationship between the rheological, physical, and mechanical properties of polymeric materials, such as Material Characterization, Polymer Science, Adhesive Technology and Applications, and Industrial Painting Technology.