Analytical Rheology of Polymer Melts: State of the Art. (17th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shanbhag, Sachin
• Other Names: Nakayama Y. Academic Editor.; Neto A. O. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN materials science. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-09-17
• Subjects: Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials science; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.5402/2012/732176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6080

Abstract

Abstract : The extreme sensitivity of rheology to the microstructure of polymer melts has prompted the development of "analytical rheology, " which seeks inferring the structure and composition of an unknown sample based on rheological measurements. Typically, this involves the inversion of a model, which may be mathematical, computational, or completely empirical. Despite the imperfect state of existing models, analytical rheology remains a practically useful enterprise. I review its successes and failures in inferring the molecular weight distribution of linear polymers and the branching content in branched polymers.