Melt flow behavior in capillary extrusion of nanometer calcium carbonate filled PCL bio-composites

Ji Zhao Liang, Lin Zhou, Chak Yin Tang, Chi Pong Tsui, Feng Jiao Li

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nanosized calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO3) filled polycaprolactone (PCL) bio-composites were prepared by using a twin-screw extruder. The melt flow behavior of the composites, including the entry pressure drop, melt shear flow curves and melt shear viscosity, were measured through a capillary rheometer operated in a temperature range of 170∼200 °C and shear rates varying from 50 to 103s-1. The entry pressure drop showed a non-linear increase with increasing shear stress when the filler weight fraction was less than 3%, while it decreased slightly with an increase of shear stress at a filler weight fraction of 4%. The melt shear flow roughly followed a power law, while the effect of temperature on the melt shear viscosity was estimated by using the Arrhenius equation. Moreover, the influence of the nano-CaCO3on the melt shear viscosity of the PCL composite was not significant at low filler levels.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-154
Number of pages6
JournalPolymer Testing
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2012

Keywords

  • Bio-composites
  • Flow property
  • Melt extrusion
  • Nano-CaCO 3
  • PCL

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics

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