SQUEEZE FILM RHEOLOGY OF POLYMER MELTS - DETERMINATION OF THE CHARACTERISTIC FLOW CURVE

The advantage of the constant-speed squeeze film flow is that the shea r rate is not constant but changes with gap height and position. This allows the rheological characterization of a material to be carried ou t in a shorter amount of experimentation time. A method for determinin g the characteristic flow curve is proposed. The characteristic flow c urves obtained from squeeze film flow is compared with the curves obta ined from capillary rheometry are presented. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Son s, Inc.