Flow-Induced Concentration Nonuniformity and Shear Banding in Entangled Polymer Solutions
Michael C. Burroughs, Yuanyi Zhang, Abhishek Shetty, Christopher M. Bates, L. Gary Leal, Matthew E. Helgeson
Abstract
Recent models have predicted entangled polymer solutions could shear band due to unstable flow-induced demixing. This work provides the first experimental probe of the in situ concentration profile of entangled polymer solutions under shear. At shear rates above a critical value, we show that the concentration and velocity profiles can develop bands, in quantitative agreement with steady-state model predictions. These findings highlight the critical importance of flow-concentration coupling in entangled polymer solutions.
Topics & Concepts
PolymerShear (geology)Materials scienceShear flowShear rateWork (physics)Flow (mathematics)MechanicsThermodynamicsPhysicsRheologyComposite materialRheology and Fluid Dynamics StudiesPhase Equilibria and ThermodynamicsMaterial Dynamics and Properties