SBIR Phase I: An Innovative Normal Stress Sensor System for Complete Characterization of Polymer Shear Flow Properties

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将解决对商用流变仪的关键需求，该流变仪可用于测量熔融热塑性塑料的所有三种剪切流动特性。目前可用的商用流变仪最多只能测量三种独立剪切流动特性中的两种，即粘度、第一法向应力差（N1）和第二法向应力差（N2）。该项目的目标是展示一种新型流变仪板的原理验证，该板带有采用微机电系统技术制造的单片集成微型压力传感器。这将表明，这种新型流变仪板可用于扩展传统流变仪的功能，使所有三种剪切流特性的测量比以前可能的精度更高。创新的流变计板将允许使用更小的样品尺寸，在测试过程中更好地控制样品厚度，并应导致更好的设计和控制聚合物材料和光谱仪的制造过程。

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project will address the critical need for a commercial rheo-meter that can be used to measure all three shear flow properties of a molten thermoplastic. Currently available commercial rheo-meters can measure at best only two of the three independent shear flow properties, which are the viscosity, first normal stress difference (N1), and second normal stress difference (N2). The objective of the proposed project is to demonstrate proof-of-principle for a novel rheo-meter plate with monolithically integrated miniature pressure sensors fabricated using micro-electro-mechanical systems technology. It will be shown that this novel rheo-meter plate can be used to extend the capabilities of conventional rheo-meters, enabling measurement of all three shear flow properties with greater accuracy than previously possible.The innovative rheo-meter plate will allow smaller sample sizes to be used, with greater control over sample thickness during testing and should lead to better design and control of manufacturing processes with polymeric materials and spectrometers.