In‐line versus off‐line rheological measurements on S‐PVC formulations releant for flow in extrusion dies

The supermolecular structures present in S‐PVC during processing are dependent on the thermomechanical history and affect the rheological behavior. Motivated by the need to have reliable rheological data relevant for numerical modeling of 3D flows in extrusion dies, we compared standard off‐line capillary measurements with‐inline measurements obtained from an instrumented die mounted on an extruder. Different PVC formulations showed different slip behavior in‐line, and also differences in comparison with the off‐line results. Cogswell analysis on entry pressure drops was used in order to obtain elongational information. For one formulation, with plug flow both in off‐line and in‐line measurements, an analysis based on the resistance to flow in contracting zones was the only way to get flow data that could be used in 3D profile simulations. The temperature sensitivity of measurements was used in order to discuss our results in terms of structural changes within the melt due to differences in thermomechanical history and formulation. Finally, an example of a 3D simulation of the flow of this formulation in an industrial extrusion die is given and compared with observations.