Journal of Rheology, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 501–522, March/April 2005
©2005 The Society of Rheology. All rights reserved.
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Constriction flows of monodisperse linear entangled polymers: Multiscale modeling and flow visualization

M. W. Collis, A. K. Lele, and M. R. Mackley

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, United Kingdom

R. S. Graham, D. J. Groves, A. E. Likhtman, and T. M. Nicholson*

IRC in Polymer Science and Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

O. G. Harlen

IRC in Polymer Science and Technology, Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

T. C. B. McLeish[dagger]

IRC in Polymer Science and Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

L. R. Hutchings

Department of Chemistry, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom

C. M. Fernyhough and R. N. Young

Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HF, United Kingdom

(Received: 29 July 2004; revised: 1 November 2004)

We explore both the rheology and complex flow behavior of monodisperse polymer melts. Adequate quantities of monodisperse polymer were synthesized in order that both the materials rheology and microprocessing behavior could be established. In parallel, we employ a molecular theory for the polymer rheology that is suitable for comparison with experimental rheometric data and numerical simulation for microprocessing flows. The model is capable of matching both shearand extensional data with minimal parameter fitting. Experimental data for the processing behavior of monodisperse polymers are presented for the first time as flow birefringence and pressure difference data obtained using a Multipass Rheometer with an 11:1 constriction entry and exit flow. Matching of experimental processing data was obtained using the constitutive equation with the Lagrangian numerical solver, FLOWSOLVE. The results show the direct coupling between molecular constitutive response and macroscopic processing behavior, and differentiate flow effects that arise separately from orientation and stretch. ©2005 The Society of Rheology

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