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Experimental understanding of the viscosity reduction ability of TLCPs with different PEs

Korea-Australia Rheology Journal volume 26, pages 303–310 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, two thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters (TLCPs) synthesized by polycondensation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid /hydroquinone/ poly dicarboxylic acid were used as viscosity reduction agents for polyethylene (PE). The TLCPs had different thermal, rheological and other physical properties that were quantitatively characterized. The two TLCPs were blended with high density PE (HDPE) and high molecular mass PE (HMMPE) by simple twin screw extrusion under the same weight ratio of 1.0 wt% and were each rheologically characterized at 190°C. The TLCPs acted as processing modifiers for the PEs and the bulk viscosity of the blends decreased dramatically. However, the viscosity reduction ability was not identical: one TLCP had obviously higher viscosity reduction ability on the HDPE, with a maximum viscosity reduction ratio of 68.1%, whereas the other TLCP had higher viscosity reduction ability on the HMMPE, with a maximum viscosity reduction ratio of 98.7%. Proposed explanations for these differences are evaluated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for NanoScale Science and Technology, School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Flinders University, South Australia, 5043, Australia

    Youhong Tang

  2. Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Min Zuo

  3. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Ping Gao

Authors
  1. Youhong Tang
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  2. Min Zuo
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  3. Ping Gao
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Correspondence to Youhong Tang or Ping Gao.

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Tang, Y., Zuo, M. & Gao, P. Experimental understanding of the viscosity reduction ability of TLCPs with different PEs. Korea-Aust. Rheol. J. 26, 303–310 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13367-014-0034-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13367-014-0034-0

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