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High Resolution Shear Profile Measurements in Entangled Polymers

Author
Hayes, K.A.; Buckley, M.R.; Cohen, I.; Archer, L.A.
Abstract
We use confocal microscopy and particle image velocimetry to visualize motion of 250-300 nm. fluorescent tracer particles in entangled polymers subject to a rectilinear shear flow. Our results show linear velocity profiles in polymer solutions spanning a wide range of molecular weights and number of entanglements (8< or =Z< or =56), but reveal large differences between the imposed and measured shear rates. These findings disagree with recent reports that shear banding is a characteristic flow response of entangled polymers, and instead point to interfacial slip as an important source of strain loss.
Sponsorship
This study was supported by the National Science Foundation (DMR0551185 and DMR0606040) and by KAUST-CU Center for Energy and Sustainability. We are grateful to Erik Herz and Ulrich Wiesner for providing fluorescent nanoparticle tracers used in the study.
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Date Issued
2008-11-17Publisher
Physical Review Letters
Subject
entangled polymers; interfacial slip
Previously Published As
Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Nov 21;101(21):218301. Epub 2008 Nov 17.
Type
article