Geometrical dependence of viscosity of polymethylmethacrylate melt in capillary flow

The shear viscosity of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) melt is particularly investigated by using a twin‐bore capillary rheometer at four temperatures of 210, 225, 240, and 255°C with different capillary dies. Experimental results show that the geometrical dependence of shear viscosity is significantly dependent on melt pressure as well as melt temperature. The measured shear viscosity increases with the decrease of die diameter at lower temperatures (210 and 225°C) but decreases with the decrease of die diameter at higher temperatures (240 and 255°C). Based on the deviation of shear viscosity curves and Mooney method, negative slip velocity is obtained at low temperatures and positive slip velocity is obtained at high temperatures, respectively. Geometrical dependence and pressure sensitivity of shear viscosity as well as temperature effect are emphasized for this viscosity deviation. Moreover, shear viscosity curve at 210°C deviates from the power law model above a critical pressure and then becomes less thinning. Mechanisms of the negative slip velocity at low temperatures are explored through Doolittle viscosity model and Barus equation, in which the pressure drop is used to obtain the pressure coefficient by curve fitting. Dependence of pressure coefficient on melt temperature suggests that the pressure sensitivity of shear viscosity is significantly affected by temperature. Geometrical dependence of shear viscosity can be somewhat weakened by increasing melt temperature. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3384–3394, 2013