On the rheological characterization of polyethylene melts by using glass capillaries

The rheological characterization of polyethylene melts by using glass capil laries was investigated. Different polyethylene melts were characterized in a capillary rheometer by using glass capillaries and the results were comp ared with those obtained by using standard dies of tungsten-carbide, in add ition to some homemade from aluminum. The data from glass capillaries showe d an excellent agreement in all the cases with the data obtained with metal capillaries, and differences in the flow curves due to the influence of ca pillary materials were not detected. These results evidence the good perfor mance and reliability of glass capillaries to perform the rheological chara cterization of this sort of polymer melt. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.