The effect of molecular mass and temperature on the slip of polystyrene melts at low stress levels

Abstract

The slip of monodisperse polystyrene melts next to a solid, inhomogeneous, metal substrate (stainless steel) is measured at small stress levels for a variety of temperatures. A critical stress, below which no slip occurs, is not seen and the polystyrene melts used here slip at all stress levels. The slip velocity is quantified by the slip length (b, equal to the slip velocity divided by the shear rate) and friction coefficient (k, equal to the slip velocity divided by the shear stress). The slip length shows complicated dependence with both the molecular mass and temperature, however, when converted to the friction coefficient a master curve with molecular mass results for temperatures above 170 °C. The data are compared to contemporary theories for slip. It is concluded that none of the present theories accurately represent the data and that the number of adsorbed molecules are in a dynamic equilibrium which affects the slip behavior. Analysis of the force on the adsorbed molecules during shear demonstrates this may cause adhesive failure which contributes to the slip.