Showing papers in "Korea-australia Rheology Journal in 2002"

Fiber orientation in the processing of polymer composites

Abstract: We review the modeling and simulation of fiber orientation during injection molding processes of short fiber reinforced thermoplastics. Generally, a group of fibers are described in terms of probability distribution function or orientation tensor. Various closure approximation models to express higher order tensor in terms of Bower order tensors are reviewed. Rheology of fiber suspensions, multiple fiber-fiber interaction and numerical technique for the prediction of fiber orientation are also considered for concentrated situations.

Static measurement of yield stress using a cylindrical penetrometer

Abstract: A novel and simple method using a cylindrical penetrometer is being developed for the measurement of yield stress. The principle of this technique is based on the measurement of the static equilibrium of a falling penetrometer in a yield stress fluid. The yield stress is simply determined by a balance of forces acting on the penetrometer. The yield stress of Carbopol gels and TiO 2 suspensions has been measured using this method. The results are in reasonable agreement with the values from conventional methods. The effects of the dimensions and weight of the penetrometer have been examined. The long-term behaviour was also observed. No measurable creep was seen and equilibrium was found to be very quickly established. The cylindrical penetrometer technique promises to be a simple, quick and reliable static method for the measurement of yield stress.

Large amplitude oscillatory shear behavior of the network model for associating polymeric systems

Abstract: To understand the large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) behavior of complex fluids, we have investigated the flow behavior of a network model in the LAOS environment. We applied the LAOS flow to the model proposed by Vaccaro and Marrucci (2000), which was originally developed to describe the system of associating telechelic polymers. The model was found to predict at least three different types of LAOS behavior; strain thinning (G’ and G” decreasing), strong strain overshoot (G’ and G” increasing followed by decreasing), and weak strain overshoot (G’ decreasing, G” increasing followed by decreasing). The overshoot behavior in the strain sweep test, which is often observed in some complex fluid systems with little explanation, could be explained in terms of the model parameters, or in terms of the overall balance between the creation and loss rates of the network junctions, which are continually created and destroyed due to thermal and flow energy. This model does not predict strain hardening behavior because of the finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) type nonlinear effect of loss rate. However, the model predicts the LAOS behavior of most of the complex fluids observed in the experiments.

Measurement of residual stresses in injection molded short fiber composites considering anisotropy and modulus variation

Abstract: Residual stress distribution in injection molded short fiber composites is determined by using the layer-removal method. Polystyrene is mixed with carbon fibers of 3% volume fraction (4.5% weight fraction) in an extruder and the tensile specimen is injection-molded. The layer-removal process, in which removing successive thin uniform layers of the material from the surface of the specimen by a milling machine, is employed and the resulting curvature is acquired by means of an image processing. The isotropic elastic analysis proposed by Treuting and Read which assumes a constant Yaung’s modulus in the thickness direction is one of the most frequently used methods to determine residual stresses. However, injection molded short fiber composites experience complex fiber orientation during molding and variation of Yaung’s modulus distribution occurs in the specimen. In this study, variation of Yaung’s modulus with respect to the thickness direction is considered for calculation of the residual stresses as proposed by White and the result is compared with that by assuming constant modulus. Residual stress distribution obtained from this study shows a typical stress profile of injection-molded products as reported in many literatures. Young’s modulus distribution is predicted by using numerical methods instead of experimental results. For the numerical analysis of injection molding process, a hybrid FEM/FDM method is used in order to predict velocity, temperature field, fiber orientation, and resulting mechanical properties of the specimen at the end of molding.

Computation of viscoelastic flow using neural networks and stochastic simulation

Abstract: []: A new technique for numerical calculation of viscoelastic flow based on the combination of Neural Networks (NN) and Brownian Dynamics simulation or Stochastic Simulation Technique (SST) is presented in this paper. This method uses a “universal approximator” based on neural network methodology in combination with the kinetic theory of polymeric liquid in which the stress is computed from the molecular configuration rather than from closed form constitutive equations. Thus the new method obviates not only the need for a rheological constitutive equation to describe the fluid (as in the original Calculation Of Non-Newtonian Flows: Finite Elements & Stochastic Simulation Techniques (CONNFFESSIT) idea) but also any kind of finite element-type discretisation of the domain and its boundary for numerical solution of the governing PDE's. As an illustration of the method, the time development of the planar Couette flow is studied for two molecular kinetic models with finite extensibility, namely the Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic (FENE) and FENE-Peterlin (FENE-P) models.

Evolution of phase morphology and in-situ compatibilization of polymer blends during ultrasound-assisted melt mixing

Abstract: A series of thermoplastic polymers and their blends were melt-processed with high intensity ultrasonic wave in an intensive mixer. For the effective transfer of ultrasonic energy, an experimental apparatus was specially designed so that polymer melt can directly contact with ultrasonic horn. It was observed that significant variations in the rheological properties of polymers occur due to the unique action of ultrasonic wave without any aid of chemical additives. It was also found that the direct sonication on immiscible polymer blends in melt state reduces the domain sizes considerably and stabilizes the phase morphology of the blends. The degree of compatibilization was strongly affected by viscosity ratio of the components and the morphology was stable after annealing in properly compatibilized blends. It is suggested that ultrasound assisted melt mixing can lead to in-situ copolymer formation between the components and consequently provide an effective route to compatibilize immiscible polymer blends.

Computing transient flows with high elasticity

Abstract: Although much progress has been made in the computation of Eulerian steady flows with high viscoelasticity, less work has been done for the case of transient flows. Because of their importance in injection moulding, blow moulding and other forming processes, as well as their Intrinsic interest, we believe more attention should be focussed in this area. Hence in this paper we review progress in unsteady flow computations with high elasticity, and show some new results in this area.

Morphological and rheological properties of culture broth of Cephalosporium acremonium M25

Abstract: Cephalosporium acremonium is a filamentous microorganism producing cephalosporin C. The morphological differentiation of C. acremonium in submerged culture is closely related with the rheological properties of culture broth and production of cephalosporin C. In this study, the rheological and morphological properties of culture broth of C. acremonium were investigated. In the seed broths of shake-flask and fermenter culture, the Herschel-Berkley equation was in excellent agreement with experimental results in the whole range of shear rate. In the seed broths of shake-flask culture, morphological differentiation into arthrospores affected to changes of apparent viscosity. But results in the fermenter culture, morphological factors such as mean hyphal thickness and the number of tips gave more effect on changes of apparent viscosity than differentiation into arthrospores. Overall, it suggested that the morphological parameters measured by image analysis can be used as a good parameter to indicate the rheological properties of culture broth of C. acremonium M25.

Viscoelastic behavior of aqueous surfactant micellar solutions

Abstract: A cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium p-toluenesufonate (CTApTS), forms long threadlike micelles in aqueous solution. The threadlike micelles make concentrated entanglement networks, so that the solution shows pronounced viscoelastic behavior as concentrated polymer systems do. However, a mechanism for a process responsible for the longest relaxation time of the threadlike micellar system is different from that of semi-dilute to concentrated polymer systems. The threadlike micellar system exhibits unique viscoelasticity described by a Maxwell model. The longest relaxation time of the threadlike micellar system is not a function of the concentration of CTA pTS, but changes with that of p-toluenesufonate (pTS ) ions in the bulk aqueous phase supplied by adding sodium p-toluenesulfonate (NapTS). The rates of molecular motions in the threadlike micelles are not influenced by the concentration of pTS anions, therefore, molecular motions in the threadlike micelles ( micro-dynamics) are independent of the longest relaxation mechanism (macro-dynamics). A nonionic surfactant, oleyldimethylamineoxide (ODAO), forms long threadlike micelles in aqueous solution without any additives. The aqueous threadlike micellar system of ODAO also shows Maxwell type viscoelastic behavior. However, the relaxation mechanism for the longest relaxation process in the system should be different from that in the threadlike micellar systems of CTA pTS, since the system of ODAO does not contain additive anions. Because increase in the average degree of protonation of head groups of ODAO molecules in micelles due to adding hydrogen bromide causes the relaxation time remarkably longer, changes in micro-structure and micro-dynamics in the threadlike micelle are closely related to macro-dynamics in contrast with the threadlike micellar system of CTA pTS.

Velocity measurements in complex flows of non-Newtonian fluids

Abstract: Experimental methods for making quantitative measurements of velocity fields in non-Newtonian fluids are reviewed. Techniques based on light scattering spectroscopy - laser Doppler velocimetry and homodyne light scattering spectroscopy, techniques based on imaging the displacement of markers - including particle image velocimetry and molecular tagging velocimetry, and techniques based on nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are discussed. The special advantages and disadvantages of each method are summarized, and their applications to non-Newtonian flows are briefly reviewed. Example data from each technique are also included.

Sensitivity analysis of melt spinning process by frequency response

Abstract: The sensitivity of the final filament to the ongoing sinusoidal disturbances has been investigated in the viscoelastic spinning using frequency response method. Amplification ratios or gains of the spinline cross-sectional area at the take-up to any disturbances show resonant peaks along the frequency regime, where the frequencies at these points directly correspond to the imaginary parts of the successive leading eigenvalues from the linear stability analysis. As shown in Jung et al. (1999) and Lee et al. (2001), the sensitivity results on the effect of various process conditions such as spinline cooling and fluid viscoelasticity, obtained by dynamic transient simulation have been corroborated in this study. That is, increasing spinline cooling makes the system less sensitive to disturbances, thus stabilizes the spinning. Also, an increasing viscoelasticity for extension-thickening fluids decreases the sensitivity of the spinning, i.e., stabilizing the system, whereas it increases the sensitivity of the spinning of extension-thinning fluids. Furthermore, it has been found in the present study that the inertia force as one of secondary forces causes the system to be more stable or less sensitive to process disturbances.

Recent results on the analysis of viscoelastic constitutive equations

Abstract: Recent results obtained for the port-pom model and the constitutive equations with time-strain separability are examined. The time-strain separability in viscoelastic systems Is not a rule derived from fundamental principles but merely a hypothesis based on experimental phenomena, stress relaxation at long times. The violation of separability in the short-time response just after a step strain is also well understood (Archer, 1999). In constitutive modeling, time-strain separability has been extensively employed because of its theoretical simplicity and practical convenience. Here we present a simple analysis that verifies this hypothesis inevitably incurs mathematical inconsistency in the viewpoint of stability. Employing an asymptotic analysis, we show that both differential and integral constitutive equations based on time-strain separability are either Hadamard-type unstable or dissipative unstable. The conclusion drawn in this study is shown to be applicable to the Doi-Edwards model (with independent alignment approximation). Hence, the Hadamardtype instability of the Doi-Edwards model results from the time-strain separability in its formulation, and its remedy may lie in the transition mechanism from Rouse to reptational relaxation supposed by Doi and Edwards. Recently in order to describe the complex rheological behavior of polymer melts with long side branches like low density polyethylene, new constitutive equations called the port-pom equations have been derived in the integral/differential form and also in the simplifled differential type by McLeish and carson on the basis of the reptation dynamics with simplifled branch structure taken into account. In this study mathematical stability analysis under short and high frequency wave disturbances has been performed for these constitutive equations. It is proved that the differential model is globally Hadamard stable, and the integral model seems stable, as long as the orientation tensor remains positive definite or the smooth strain history in the flow is previously given. However cautious attention has to be paid when one employs the simplified version of the constitutive equations without arm withdrawal, since neglecting the arm withdrawal immediately yields Hadamard instability. In the flow regime of creep shear flow where the applied constant shear stress exceeds the maximum achievable value in the steady flow curves, the constitutive equations exhibit severe instability that the solution possesses strong discontinuity at the moment of change of chain dynamics mechanisms.

Shear-induced structure and dynamics of hydrophobically modified hydroxy ethyl cellulose (hmHEC) in the presence of SDS

Abstract: The interaction between hydrophobically modified hydroxyethyl cellulose (hmHEC), containing approximately 1 wt% side-alkyl chains of C-16, and an anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant was investigated. For a semi-dilute solution of 0.5 wt% hmHEC, the previously observed behaviour of a maximum in solution viscosity at intermediate SDS concentrations, followed by a drop at higher SDS concentrations, until above the cmc of surfactant when the solution resembles that of the unsubstituted polymer, was confirmed. Additionally, a two-phase region containing a hydrogel phase and a water-like supernatant was found at low SDS concentrations up to 0.2 wt%, a concentration which is akin to the critical association concentration, cac, of SDS in the presence of hmHEC. Above this concentration, SDS molecules bind strongly to form mixed micellar aggregates with the polymer alkyl side-chains, thus strengthening the network junctions, resulting in the observed increase in viscosity and elastic modulus of the solution. The shear behaviour of this polymer-surfactant complex during steady and step stress experiments was examined in great detail. Between SDS concentrations of 0.2 and 0.25 wt%, the shear viscosity of the hmHEC-polymer complex network undergoes shear-induced thickening, followed by a two-stage shear-induced fracture or break-up of the network. The thickening is thought to be due to structural rearrangement, causing the network of flexible polymers to expand, enabling some polymer hydrophobic groups to be converted from intra- to inter-chain associations. At higher applied stress, a partial local break-up of the network occurs, while at even higher stress, above the critical or network yield stress, a complete fracture of the network into small microgel-like units, is believed to occur. This second network rupture is progressive with time of shear and no steady state in viscosity was observed even after 300 s. The structure which was reformed after the cessation of shear is found to be significantly different from the original state.

A microscopic study on the rheological properties of human blood in low concentration limit

Abstract: A microscopic theoretical study is performed to predict the rheological properties of human blood in the low concentration limit. The shear thinning behavior of blood in the low shear limit is studied by considering the aggregate formation of red blood cells, which is called the rouleaux formation. Then the constitutive equations of blood in the high shear limit are derived for various flow situations by considering the unique features of deformation of blood cells. Specifically, the effects of the surface-area-preserving constraint and the lank-treading motion of blood cells on the rheological properties are studied.

Rheology of hydrophobic-alkali-soluble-emulsions (HASE) and the effects of surfactants

Abstract: Steady and dynamic shear properties of two hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsions (HASE), NPJ1 and NPJ2, were experimentally investigated. At the same polymer concentration, NPJ1 is appreciably more viscous and elastic than NPJ2. The high hydrophobicity of NPJ1 allows hydrophobic associations and more junction sites to be created, leading to the formation of a network structure. Under shear deformation, NPJ1 exhibits shear-thinning behaviour as compared with Newtonian characteristics of NPJ2. NPJ1 and NPJ2 exhibit a very high and a low level of elasticity respectively over the frequency range tested. For NPJ1, a crossover frequency appears, which is shifted to lower frequencies and hence, longer relaxation times, as concentration increases. Three different surfactants anionic SDS, cationic CTAB, and non-ionic TX-100 were employed to examine the effects of surfactants on the rheology of HASE. Due to the different ionic behaviour of the surfactant, each type of surfactant imposed different electrostatic interactions on the two HASE polymers. In general, at low surfactant concentration, a gradual increase in viscosity is observed until a maximum is reached, beyond which a continuous reduction of viscosity ensues. Viscosity development is a combined result of HASE-surfactant interactions, accompanied by constant rearrangement of the hydrophobic associative junctions, and electrostatic interactions.

Preparation of tungsten metal film by spin coating method

Abstract: Metal thin films, which are indispensable constituents of ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) circuits, have been fabricated by physical or chemical methods. However, these methods have a drawback of using expensive high vacuum instruments. In this work, the fabrication of tungsten metal film by spin coating was investigated. First of all, inorganic peroxopolytungstic acid (W-IPA) powder, which is soluble in water, was prepared by dissolving metal tungsten in hydrogen peroxide and by evaporating residual solvent. Then, the solution of W-IPA was mixed with organic solvent, which was spin-coated on wafers. And then, tungsten metal films were obtained after reduction procedure. By selecting an appropriate organic solvent and irradiating UV, the sheet resistance of the tungsten metal film could be remarkably reduced.

Polyethylene flow prediction with a differential multi-mode Pom-Pom model

Abstract: We report the first steps of a collaborative project between the University of Queensland, Polyflow, Michelin, SK Chemicals, and RMIT University; on simulation, validation and application of a recently introduced constitutive model designed to describe branched polymers. Whereas much progress has been made on predicting the complex flow behaviour of many - in particular linear - polymers, it sometimes appears difficult to predict simultaneously shear thinning and extensional strain hardening behaviour using traditional constitutive models. Recently a new viscoelastic model based on molecular topology, was proposed by McLeish and Larson (1998). We explore the predictive power of a differential multi-mode version of the pom-pom model for the flow behaviour of two commercial polymer melts: a (long-chain branched) low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and a (linear) high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The model responses are compared to elongational recovery experiments published by Langouche and Debbaut (1999), and start-up of simple shear flow, stress relaxation after simple and reverse step strain experiments carried out in our laboratory.

Effects of chemical reaction on the polishing rate and surface planarity in the copper CMP

Abstract: Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) is the polishing process enabled by both chemical and mechanical actions. CMP is used in the fabrication process of the integrated circuits to achieve adequate planarity necessary for stringent photolithography depth of focus requirements. And recently copper is preferred in the metallization process because of its low resistivity. We have studied the effects of chemical reaction on the polishing rate and surface planarity in copper CMP by means of numerical simulation solving Navier-Stokes equation and copper diffusion equation. We have performed pore-scale simulation and integrated the results over all the pores underneath the wafer surface to calculate the macroscopic material removal rate. The mechanical abrasion effect was not included in our study and we concentrated our focus on the transport phenomena occurring in a single pore. We have observed the effects of several parameters such as concentration of chemical additives, relative velocity of the wafer, slurry film thickness or aspect ratio of the pore on the copper removal rate and the surface planarity. We observed that when the chemical reaction was rate-limiting step, the results of simulation matched well with the experimental data.

A rheo-optical investigation of shear-induced morphological changes in biopolymeric blends

Abstract: In this paper, a rheo-optical methodology based on small angle light scattering and polarimetry is applied to investigate in-situ and on a time resolved basis the flow-induced structures in aqueous biopolymeric blends. Water-dextran-gelatin is chosen as an example. It is verified to what extent the laws and scaling relations, originally developed for synthetic polymer blends, are valid for the morphology development in this aqueous biopolymeric mixture. It was observed that under low shear rate conditions, the biopolymeric emulsion can be regarded as a conventional emulsion. However, at high shear rates flow induced homogenization occurs.

Note on the beginnings of sinusoidal testing methods

Abstract: The measurement of the storage and loss moduli (G’ and G” respectively) of materials as functions of frequency is now commonplace and is of wide utility. Yet it is not easy to trace the history of such measurements, and so this article discusses the genesis of this important experimental technique. We find that the technique grew out of a parallel technique for dielectric measurements (ca. 1900) and was developed in the mid-1930s by Philippoff and others. Important breakthroughs due to digital circuitry have occurred only in the last 20 years or so. The application of a small-amplitude sinusoidal-in-time strain (or stress) to a material sample and the measurement of the stress (or strain) is now one of the most common methods of rheological characterization. Generally, shear or elongational deformation can be used, depending essentially on the consistency of the sample. In this article we

Hydrodynamic interaction between two cylinders in planar shear flow of viscoelastic fluid

Abstract: Particle-particle interaction is of great importance in the study of suspension rheology. In this research we have investigated the hydrodynamic interaction between two identical cylinders in viscoelastic fluids numerically as a model problem for the study of viscoelastic suspension. We confine two neutrally buoyant cylinders between two parallel plates and impose a shear flow. We determine the migration velocity of two cylinders. The result shows that cylinders move toward or away from each other depending upon the initial distance between them and that there is an equilibrium distance between two cylinders in viscoelastic fluids regardless of the initial distance. In the case of Newtonian fluid, there is no relative movement as expected. The results partly explain the chaining phenomena of spherical particles in shear flows of viscoelastic fluids.