Mechanisms for viscosity reduction of polymer blends: Blends of fluoroelastomer and high-density polyethylene

The rheological behavior of fluoroelastomer high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends was investigated in detail. A capillary rheometer was used to determine the apparent viscosity of the blends as a function of time at various shear rates. The time to attain the steady state and the normalized steady-state apparent viscosity of the blends depend on shear rate and the fluoroelastomer concentration. The reduction in the apparent viscosity is caused by adhesive failure at the interface between the HDPE melt and the fluoroelastomer layer which was formed on the die wall surface during the extrusion of the blends. The presence of the fluoroelastomer layer on the die wall surface was confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and rheological measurements. Based on our previous work and this work, we have discovered that there are at least two different mechanisms-adhesive failure at the interface between the extrudate and the lubricating layer or cohesive failure in the lubricant layer-for viscosity reduction in polymer blends. (C) 1997 The Society of Rheology.