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Effect of diatomite/polyethylene glycol binary processing aid on the melt fracture and the rheology of polyethylenes
Author(s) -
Liu Xiaolong,
Li Huilin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20355
Subject(s) - materials science , rheology , polyethylene glycol , composite material , shear rate , polyethylene , melt flow index , capillary action , viscosity , shear thinning , peg ratio , polymer , chemical engineering , copolymer , finance , engineering , economics
The influence of polyethylene (PE) glycol (PEG), diatomite, and diatomite/PEG binary processing aid (BPA) on the rheological properties and the sharkskin melt fracture of three PEs was studied using a capillary rheometer. When diatomite or PEG is added to the PE matrix, they have little effect on the viscosity reduction of PEs, while the diatomite/PEG BPA shows a synergetic effect on the viscosity reduction of PEs. The incorporation of small amount of BPA was found to increase the shear‐thinning behavior and decrease the melt viscosity significantly. Meanwhile, the critical apparent shear rate for the onset of sharkskin melt fracture of PEs is increased. The mechanism for BPA to improve the rheological properties and the melt flow instability of PEs was discussed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:898–903, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers