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Characterizing long-chain branching in commercial HDPE samples via linear viscoelasticity and extensional rheology

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Abstract

It is well established that polymer chain architecture and the distribution of molecular weight play a key role in the flow behavior (processing) and performance of a given polymer material. Long-chain branching (LCB) in particular is known to strongly affect the processability and the material performance of polymers. Often branching is a result of the polymerization process and therefore must be quantified in every sample. We study four commercial high-density polyethylene (HDPE) samples with unknown degrees of polydispersity and LCB. We first use size-exclusion chromatography and linear shear rheology to identify differences in molecular weight, polydispersity, and LCB. Each material is then tested in constant rate and constant stress uniaxial extension using a filament stretching rheometer to quantify extensional viscosity and strain hardening. Correlations between nonlinear extensional rheology, LCB and polydispersity are discussed. We show that the combination of the van Gurp-Palmen plot and extensional rheology allows for a full characterization of the LCB fraction and their effect on extensional rheology.

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  1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Samantha L. Morelly & Nicolas J. Alvarez

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  1. Samantha L. Morelly
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  2. Nicolas J. Alvarez
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Correspondence to Nicolas J. Alvarez.

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Morelly, S.L., Alvarez, N.J. Characterizing long-chain branching in commercial HDPE samples via linear viscoelasticity and extensional rheology. Rheol Acta 59, 797–807 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-020-01233-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-020-01233-5

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