Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Physics and Theory".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2020) | Viewed by 36266

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Guest Editor
Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Interests: polymer physical chemistry; colloid chemistry; rheology; polymer processing; fiber spinning; additive technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Interests: mechanics of polymers; rheology of polymer melts and solutions; colloid; multicomponent compositions; nanocomposites; polymer technology and pocessing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Traditionally, rheology as a branch of mechanics has been directed towards understanding the interrelationships between stresses, strains, and their rates. The transition to polymer objects has introduced into consideration the presence in materials of long flexible macromolecules, which insert novel features in rheology, interconnected with polymer physics: configurations and conformations of macromolecules, long relaxation times and their spectra, high elastic deformations, memory effects, and so on. A lot of constitutive rheological equations have been developed, which allow for the prediction of basic rheological behavior of polymers. However, the appearance of novel polymers with macromolecules of complex shapes, including stiff-chain configuration; multicomponent compositions, such as polymer solutions and blends; as well as composites and nanocomposites based on polymer matrices, has led to the development of new rheological approaches to describe their behavior correctly.

However, with the onset of “plastic area” and such processing methods as extrusion, injection molding, fibers, and films spinning, a rheological description of polymer melts and solutions has become obligatory for the efficient production of polymer articles. In addition to classical methods of rotational and capillary shear rheology, the uniaxial and biaxial extension, squeezing, and superposition of different kinds of strains has received an additional impulse to development. Much more attention has been devoted to polymer solutions, based on such polymers as cellulose, polyacrylonitrile, and polyvinylalcohole, which have become a source of textile and technical fibers, as well as polylactide, polyglycolide, and other biocompatible and biodegradable fibers and nanofibers for medical applications.

Thus, polymer rheology has a dual meaning in polymer science: fundamental and applied. Both these inputs will be considered in this Issue.

Keywords

  • Rheology of polymer melts and solutions
  • Biocompatible polymers
  • Liquid crystalline polymers
  • Polymer processing
  • Composites and nanocomposites

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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18 pages, 6616 KiB  
Article
Solubility, Rheology, and Coagulation Kinetics of Poly-(O-Aminophenylene)Naphthoylenimide Solutions
by Ivan. Y. Skvortsov, Valery G. Kulichikhin, Igor I. Ponomarev, Lydia A. Varfolomeeva, Mikhail S. Kuzin, Kirill M. Skupov, Yulia. A. Volkova, Dmitry Y. Razorenov and Olga A. Serenko
Polymers 2020, 12(11), 2454; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12112454 - 23 Oct 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1884
Abstract
The effect of temperature and storage time at a constant temperature on the stability of poly-(o-aminophenylene)naphthoylenimide solutions in N-methylpyrrolidone has been analyzed using rotational rheometry. A temperature–time window beyond which an irreversible change in the viscoelastic properties of solutions due to cumulative reactions [...] Read more.
The effect of temperature and storage time at a constant temperature on the stability of poly-(o-aminophenylene)naphthoylenimide solutions in N-methylpyrrolidone has been analyzed using rotational rheometry. A temperature–time window beyond which an irreversible change in the viscoelastic properties of solutions due to cumulative reactions of continuous polymerization and possible intramolecular cyclization has been detected. The influence of polymer concentration and its molecular weight on the rheological properties of solutions determining the choice of methods for their processing into fibers and films has been investigated. The effect of non-solvents (water and ethanol) additives on the rheological properties of solutions and the kinetics of their coagulation has been studied. Dosed addition of non-solvent into the solution promotes a significant increase in the viscoelasticity up to gelation and phase separation. Non-solvent presence in the polymer solutions reduces the activity of the solvent, accelerates the movement of the diffusion front at coagulation, and minimizes the number of macro defects. The combination of parameters under investigation renders it possible for the first time to develop new principles modifying dopes for wet spinning into aqueous or ethanol coagulation bath and finally to obtain a heat- and fire-resistant polynaphthoylenebenzimidazole fibers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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43 pages, 12677 KiB  
Article
On the Role of Polymer Viscoelasticity in Enhanced Oil Recovery: Extensive Laboratory Data and Review
by Alexander Rock, Rafael E. Hincapie, Muhammad Tahir, Nils Langanke and Leonhard Ganzer
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2276; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102276 - 03 Oct 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4579
Abstract
Polymer flooding most commonly uses partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides (HPAM) injected to increase the declining oil production from mature fields. Apart from the improved mobility ratio, also the viscoelasticity-associated flow effects yield additional oil recovery. Viscoelasticity is defined as the ability of particular polymer [...] Read more.
Polymer flooding most commonly uses partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides (HPAM) injected to increase the declining oil production from mature fields. Apart from the improved mobility ratio, also the viscoelasticity-associated flow effects yield additional oil recovery. Viscoelasticity is defined as the ability of particular polymer solutions to behave as a solid and liquid simultaneously if certain flow conditions, e.g., shear rates, are present. The viscoelasticity related flow phenomena as well as their recovery mechanisms are not fully understood and, hence, require additional and more advanced research. Whereas literature reasonably agreed on the presence of these viscoelastic flow effects in porous media, there is a significant lack and discord regarding the viscoelasticity effects in oil recovery. This work combines the information encountered in the literature, private reports and field applications. Self-gathered laboratory data is used in this work to support or refuse observations. An extensive review is generated by combining experimental observations and field applications with critical insights of the authors. The focus of the work is to understand and clarify the claims associated with polymer viscoelasticity in oil recovery by improvement of sweep efficiency, oil ganglia mobilization by flow instabilities, among others. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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23 pages, 10611 KiB  
Article
Study on Viscoelastic Properties of Asphalt Mixtures Incorporating SBS Polymer and Basalt Fiber under Freeze–Thaw Cycles
by Wensheng Wang, Guojin Tan, Chunyu Liang, Yong Wang and Yongchun Cheng
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081804 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2540
Abstract
This study aims to study the viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures incorporating styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) polymer and basalt fiber under freeze–thaw (F-T) cycles by using the static creep test. Asphalt mixture samples incorporating styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) polymer and basalt fiber were manufactured following the Superpave [...] Read more.
This study aims to study the viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures incorporating styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) polymer and basalt fiber under freeze–thaw (F-T) cycles by using the static creep test. Asphalt mixture samples incorporating styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) polymer and basalt fiber were manufactured following the Superpave gyratory compaction (SGC) method and coring as well as sawing. After 0 to 21 F-T cycles processing, a uniaxial compression static creep test for the asphalt mixture specimens was performed to evaluate the influence of F-T cycles. The results indicated that the F-T cycles caused a larger creep deformation in the asphalt mixtures, which led to a decrease in the rut resistance of the asphalt mixtures incorporating SBS polymer and basalt fiber. Besides, the resistance to deformation decreased significantly in the early stage of F-T cycles. On the other hand, the viscoelastic parameters were analyzed to discuss the variation of viscoelastic characteristics. The relaxation time increased with F-T cycles, which will not be conducive to internal stress dissipation. Compared with lignin fiber, basalt fiber can improve the resistance to high-temperature deformation and the low-temperature crack resistance of asphalt mixtures under F-T cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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10 pages, 3172 KiB  
Article
Deformation Properties of Concentrated Metal-in-Polymer Suspensions under Superimposed Compression and Shear
by Alexander Ya. Malkin, Valery G. Kulichikhin, Anton V. Mityukov and Sergey V. Kotomin
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12051038 - 02 May 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2061
Abstract
Concentrated metal-in-polymer suspensions (55 vol.% and 60 vol.%) of aluminum powder dispersed in low molecular weight polyethylene glycol) demonstrate elastoplastic properties under compression and shear. The rheological behavior of concentrated suspensions was studied in a rotational rheometer with uniaxial compression (squeezing), as well [...] Read more.
Concentrated metal-in-polymer suspensions (55 vol.% and 60 vol.%) of aluminum powder dispersed in low molecular weight polyethylene glycol) demonstrate elastoplastic properties under compression and shear. The rheological behavior of concentrated suspensions was studied in a rotational rheometer with uniaxial compression (squeezing), as well as shearing superimposed on compression. At a high metal concentration, the elasticity of the material strongly increases under strain, compared with the plasticity. The elastic compression modulus increases with the growth of normal stress. Changes in the shear modulus depend on both normal and shear stresses. At a low compression force, the shear modulus is only slightly dependent on the shear stress. However, high compression stress leads to a decrease in the shear modulus by several orders with the growth of the shear stress. The decrease in the modulus seems to be rather unusual for compacted matter. This phenomenon could be explained by the rearrangement of the specific organization of the suspension under compression, leading to the creation of inhomogeneous structures and their displacement at flow, accompanied by wall slip. The obtained set of rheological characteristics of highly loaded metal-in-polymer suspensions is the basis for understanding the behavior of such systems in the powder injection molding process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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15 pages, 2939 KiB  
Article
Impact of Spacer Nature and Counter Ions on Rheological Behavior of Novel Polymer-Cationic Gemini Surfactant Systems at High Temperature
by Shams Kalam, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Shirish Patil and Syed Muhammad Shakil Hussain
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12051027 - 01 May 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
Compatible surfactant-polymer (SP) hybrid systems at high temperature are in great demand due to the necessity of chemical flooding in high-temperature oil reservoirs. The rheological properties of novel SP systems were studied. The SP system used in this study consists of a commercial [...] Read more.
Compatible surfactant-polymer (SP) hybrid systems at high temperature are in great demand due to the necessity of chemical flooding in high-temperature oil reservoirs. The rheological properties of novel SP systems were studied. The SP system used in this study consists of a commercial polymer and four in-house synthesized polyoxyethylene cationic gemini surfactants with various spacers (mono phenyl and biphenyl ring) and different counterions (bromide and chloride). The impact of surfactant concentration, spacer nature, counterions, and temperature on the rheological features of SP solutions was examined using oscillation and shear measurements. The results were compared with a pure commercial polymer. All surfactants exhibited good thermal stability in seawater with no precipitation. Shear viscosity and storage modulus were measured as a function of shear rate and angular frequency, respectively. The experimental results revealed that the novel SP solution with a mono phenyl and chloride counterions produces a better performance in comparison with the SP solution, which contains mono phenyl and bromide counterions. Moreover, the effect is enhanced when the mono phenyl ring is replaced with a biphenyl ring. Shear viscosity and storage modulus decrease by increasing surfactant concentration at the same temperature, due to the charge screening effect. Storage modulus and complex viscosity reduce by increasing the temperature at a constant angular frequency of 10 rad/s. Among all studied SP systems, a surfactant containing a biphenyl ring in the spacer with chloride as a counterion has the least effect on the shear viscosity of the polymer. This study improves the understanding of tuning the surfactant composition in making SP solutions with better rheological properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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10 pages, 5614 KiB  
Article
Rheological Study of Gelation and Crosslinking in Chemical Modified Polyamide 12 Using a Multiwave Technique
by Dominik Dörr, Ute Kuhn and Volker Altstädt
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040855 - 07 Apr 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5337
Abstract
When processing particular polymers, it may be necessary to increase the molecular weight, for example, during polymer recycling or foaming. Chemical additives such as chain extenders (CE) are often used to build up the molecular weight during reactive extrusion. One issue of chain [...] Read more.
When processing particular polymers, it may be necessary to increase the molecular weight, for example, during polymer recycling or foaming. Chemical additives such as chain extenders (CE) are often used to build up the molecular weight during reactive extrusion. One issue of chain extenders, however, is that they can cause gelation or crosslinking of the polymer during processes with long residence times. This can lead to strong process fluctuations, undesired process shutdowns due to uncontrollable torque and pressure fluctuations and finally consistent material quality cannot be guaranteed. To measure and understand the reactivity between the polymer and the CE a rheological test can help. However, the standard gel point evaluation used for thermosets by examining the point of intersection of storage- and loss modules is not suitable, as this method is frequency-dependent. This study uses a multiwave rheology test to identify the gel-point more reliably. Both evaluation methods were compared on a polyamide 12 system, which is modified with an industrially relevant chain extender. The results show that the multiwave test can be applied on a chemical modified thermoplastic system and that the material system indicates a general tendency to crosslink. The frequency-independent gel-point evaluation shows that the gel-point itself is dependent on the processing temperature. Finally, it was possible to detect undesired side reactions, which are not recognizable with the standard testing method. Both findings are directly relevant for the reactive extrusion process and help to understand the mechanism of gelation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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20 pages, 5915 KiB  
Article
Compositions Based on PAN Solutions Containing Polydimethylsiloxane Additives: Morphology, Rheology, and Fiber Spinning
by Valery G. Kulichikhin, Ivan Y. Skvortsov and Lydia A. Varfolomeeva
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040815 - 04 Apr 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2972
Abstract
The effect of additives of polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) with various molecular weights on the morphology and rheological behavior of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solutions in dimethyl sulfoxide has been analyzed. It was shown that only partial compatibility of the PDMS with the lowest molecular weight member [...] Read more.
The effect of additives of polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) with various molecular weights on the morphology and rheological behavior of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solutions in dimethyl sulfoxide has been analyzed. It was shown that only partial compatibility of the PDMS with the lowest molecular weight member of the homologous series studied—hexamethyldisiloxane—with PAN solution takes place. All other PDMS samples form emulsions with PAN solutions. The coalescence rate of PDMS drops depends on the viscosity ratio of the disperse phase and the continuous medium, which determines both the duration of dispersion preparation and the conditions for processing emulsions into fibers and films. An anomalous change in viscosity for a series of emulsions with different concentrations of additives, associated with the slippage, was detected. The relaxation properties of emulsions “feel” macro-phase separation. Modeling of the wet spinning process has shown that the morphology of the deposited solution drop reflects the movement of the diffusion front, leading to the gathering droplets in the center of the deposited formulation drop or to their localization in a certain arrangement. It was shown that the emulsion jets upon stretching undergo phase separation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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13 pages, 3390 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Investigation of Thermo-Induced Gelation of Partially Cross-Linked Poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline in Aqueous Media
by Alina Amirova, Serafim Rodchenko, Mikhail Kurlykin, Andrey Tenkovtsev, Illia Krasnou, Andres Krumme and Alexander Filippov
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030698 - 21 Mar 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3009
Abstract
Water-soluble, partially cross-linked poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline combining the properties of chemical and physical gels was synthesized by a two-step procedure. Thermally induced sol-gel transition in its aqueous solution was studied by rheology, light scattering, and turbidimetry. It was demonstrated that the synthesized product is bimodal; [...] Read more.
Water-soluble, partially cross-linked poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline combining the properties of chemical and physical gels was synthesized by a two-step procedure. Thermally induced sol-gel transition in its aqueous solution was studied by rheology, light scattering, and turbidimetry. It was demonstrated that the synthesized product is bimodal; it consists of linear and cross-linked components. The cross-linked components are responsible for the gelation, while the linear ones abate the viscosity growth. Heating the solution above the phase transition temperature leads to the self-assembly of the particles into a physical gel. The combination of chemical and physical cross-linking was found to be a prospective route for thermosensitive gel development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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9 pages, 1749 KiB  
Article
Superharmonic Resonance in Carbon-Black-Filled Rubber by High-Frequency DMA
by Imran Hussain Syed and Jorge Lacayo-Pineda
Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11101653 - 11 Oct 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2749
Abstract
A systematic study of several SBR compounds filled with carbon black of various grades were analysed with the high-frequency Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (HF DMA) in order to quantify the degree of nonlinearity induced by fillers in rubber compounds. These filler grades indirectly reflect [...] Read more.
A systematic study of several SBR compounds filled with carbon black of various grades were analysed with the high-frequency Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (HF DMA) in order to quantify the degree of nonlinearity induced by fillers in rubber compounds. These filler grades indirectly reflect different degrees of microdispersion, which seems to be the main influence on the superharmonic resonance phenomenon observed in HF DMA. This statement arises from the comparison of the microdispersion observed in TEM images. In the second part of the paper, a model compound filled with carbon black is enhanced with a standard reinforcing resin, which leads to a more compact filler network. This induces a higher superharmonic resonance response as well as a higher transmissibility behaviour. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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15 pages, 4370 KiB  
Article
Opposite Effects of SiO2 Nanoparticles on the Local α and Larger-Scale α’ Segmental Relaxation Dynamics of PMMA Nanocomposites
by Na Wang, Xuebang Wu and C.S. Liu
Polymers 2019, 11(6), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11060979 - 03 Jun 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3256
Abstract
The segmental relaxation dynamics of poly(methyl methacrylate)/silica (PMMA/SiO2) nanocomposites with different compositions ( ϕ SiO 2 ) near and above the glass transition temperature were investigated by mechanical spectroscopy. At ϕ SiO 2 ≤ 0.5%, the α peak temperature hardly changes [...] Read more.
The segmental relaxation dynamics of poly(methyl methacrylate)/silica (PMMA/SiO2) nanocomposites with different compositions ( ϕ SiO 2 ) near and above the glass transition temperature were investigated by mechanical spectroscopy. At ϕ SiO 2 ≤ 0.5%, the α peak temperature hardly changes with ϕ SiO 2 , but that of α’ relaxation composed of Rouse and sub-Rouse modes decreases by 15 °C due to the increase of free volume. At ϕ SiO 2 ≥ 0.7%, both α and α’ relaxations shift to high temperatures because of the steric hindrance introduced by nanoparticle agglomeration. On the other hand, with increasing ϕ SiO 2 , the peak height for α relaxation increases at ϕ SiO 2 ≤ 0.5% and then decreases at ϕ SiO 2 ≥ 0.7%, but that for α’ relaxation shows an opposite behavior. This is because at low ϕ SiO 2 , the short-chain segments related to α relaxation can easily bypass the particles, but the longer-chain segments related to α’ relaxation cannot. At high ϕ SiO 2 , the polymer chains were bound to the nanoparticles due to the physical adsorption effect, leading to the decrease of relaxation unit concentration involved in α relaxation. However, the dissociation of those bonds with heating and the concentration heterogeneity of polymer chains result in the increase of peak height for α’ relaxation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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15 pages, 3366 KiB  
Article
Improving the Thermal Stability of Hydrophobic Associative Polymer Aqueous Solution Using a “Triple-Protection” Strategy
by Bo Yang, Jincheng Mao, Jinzhou Zhao, Yang Shao, Yang Zhang, Zhaoyang Zhang and Qingye Lu
Polymers 2019, 11(6), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11060949 - 01 Jun 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4089
Abstract
Because of their high viscoelasticity, Hydrophobic Associative Water-Soluble Polymers (HAWSPs) have been widely used in many industrial fields, especially in oilfield flooding and fracturing. However, one major problem which limits the wide applications of HAWSPs is their weak resistance to high temperatures. Once [...] Read more.
Because of their high viscoelasticity, Hydrophobic Associative Water-Soluble Polymers (HAWSPs) have been widely used in many industrial fields, especially in oilfield flooding and fracturing. However, one major problem which limits the wide applications of HAWSPs is their weak resistance to high temperatures. Once the temperature increases over 100 °C, the viscosity of the fracturing fluid decreases rapidly, because high temperatures reduce fluid viscosity by oxidizing the polyacrylamide chains and weakening the association of hydrophobic groups. To improve the high temperature resistance of one HAWSP, a triple-protection strategy was developed. First, rigid N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone moiety was introduced into the polymer chains. Second, an environmentally-friendly deoxidizer, carbohydrazide, was selected to prevent polymer oxidization by scavenging dissolved oxygen. Results showed that both the rigid groups and the deoxidizer improved the temperature resistance of the polymer and helped it maintain high viscosity under high temperature and shear rate. Using these two protection strategies, the resistant temperature of the polymer could reach 160 °C. However, the polymer network still got severely damaged at further elevated temperatures. Therefore, as the third protection strategy, the pre-added high temperature responsive crosslinking agent was applied to form new networks at elevated temperatures. The results have shown that the optimized polymer solution as a kind of fracturing fluid showed good temperature resistance up to 200 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Rheology: Fundamentals and Applications)
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