Rheological Properties of Polymer Liquids

Abstract

Experimental studies by the author and coworkers on rheological properties of concentrated polymer liquids are reviewed. The molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and concentration dependences of viscoelastic functions, relaxation spectra, steady-state viscosity, steady-state compliance, entanglement compliance and others have been investigated with relation to the entanglement structure and the relaxation mechanism of polymer chains. The rheological properties of branched polymers, star-shaped and randomly branched systems have also been discussed in terms of the length and number of the branches. Emphasis is placed on that the employment of monodisperse polymers is essentially significant to obtain a definite conclusion on the relationship between molecular characteristics and rheological properties. © 1984, The Society of Rheology, Japan. All rights reserved.