Shear and Extensional Rheology of Linear and Branched Polybutylene Succinate Blends
Violette Bourg, Rudy Valette, Nicolas Le Moigne, Patrick Ienny, Valérie Guillard, Anne Bergeret
Abstract
The molecular architecture and rheological behavior of linear and branched polybutylene succinate blends have been investigated using size-exclusion chromatography, small-amplitude oscillatory shear and extensional rheometry, in view of their processing using cast and blown extrusion. Dynamic viscoelastic properties indicate that a higher branched polybutylene succinate amount in the blend increases the relaxation time due to an increased long-chain branching degree. Branched polybutylene succinate exhibits pronounced strain hardening under uniaxial elongation, which is known to improve processability. Under extensional flow, the 50/50 wt % blend exhibits the same behavior as linear polybutylene succinate.