Polydispersity index from linear viscoelastic data: Unimodal and bimodal linear polymer melts

This article describes a method for determining the polydispersity index Ip2=Mz/Mw of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of linear polymeric materials from linear viscoelastic data. The method uses the Mellin transform of the relaxation modulus of a simple molecular rheological model. One of th...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Llorens Llacuna, Joan, Rudé i Payró, Elisabet, Marcos Hernández, Rosa Maria
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2003
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/46383
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/46383
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Polímers
Reologia
Viscoelasticitat
Pesos moleculars
Macromolècules
Polymers
Rheology
Viscoelasticity
Molecular weights
Macromolecules
Descrição
Resumo:This article describes a method for determining the polydispersity index Ip2=Mz/Mw of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of linear polymeric materials from linear viscoelastic data. The method uses the Mellin transform of the relaxation modulus of a simple molecular rheological model. One of the main features of this technique is that it enables interesting MWD information to be obtained directly from dynamic shear experiments. It is not necessary to achieve the relaxation spectrum, so the ill-posed problem is avoided. Furthermore, a determinate shape of the continuous MWD does not have to be assumed in order to obtain the polydispersity index. The technique has been developed to deal with entangled linear polymers, whatever the form of the MWD is. The rheological information required to obtain the polydispersity index is the storage G′(ω) and loss G″(ω) moduli, extending from the terminal zone to the plateau region. The method provides a good agreement between the proposed theoretical approach and the experimental polydispersity indices of several linear polymers for a wide range of average molecular weights and polydispersity indices. It is also applicable to binary blends.