APPLICABILITY OF THE RHEOLOGICAL EQUATION OF STATE FOR THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES

A simple experimental method for determining the steady-state shear vi scosity of thermoplastic composite melts has been used. Using this met hod, we have determined the steady-state shear viscosity of an automot ive thermoplastic composite system, namely, wollastonite-filled poly( ethylene terephthalate) (WFPET), at various temperatures and shear rat es. All the viscosity properties investigated can be successfully desc ribed and predicted by a thermodynamically based rheological equation of state. The effects of composition and mixing conditions on the stea dy-state shear viscosity of all the WFPET investigated were also deter mined using this rheological equation of state.