FRICTIONAL-PROPERTIES OF POLYOLEFINS TREATED WITH FLUOROELASTOMER PROCESSING AIDS

A friction measurement system was designed that made possible the measurement of the friction coefficient between a polymer melt and a metal die wall. The shear stresses developed in the capillary rheometer and the friction coefficient measured in the friction measurement system were compared in an attempt to understand the mechanism of fluoroelastomer processing aids (FPA) in the extrusions of polypropylene (PP) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The apparent viscosity drops of LLDPE treated with FPA were larger than those of PP treated with FPA. The friction coefficient drops of LLDPE treated with FPA were also larger than those of PP treated with FPA. High viscosity FPA showed a moderate friction coefficient drop in the actual extrusion of PP even though it showed only a poor effect in the capillary rheometer. The frictional forces were calculated from the friction coefficient measurement made during extrusions of FPA-treated and untreated samples. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.