SynopsisFlow curves (shear stress versus shear rate) were obtained for poly-(ethyl acrylate) containing up to 40% of gel particles over a range of shear rates from 3 X lo-* to 7 X 108 set.-' with a specially designed bimnical rheometer and a standard Instron capillary viscometer. Crosslink density of the gels was varied by emulsion-polymerizing ethyl acrylate 7Rith 3, 10, and 30% triethyleneglycol dimethcrylate. Particle sizes were varied by adjusting the concentration of emulsifying agent and by d i g techniques. Samples for study were prepared by blending and co-precipitating the linear and gel latices. The addition of gel always increases the shear stress at a given shear rate. However, this effect is greatest a t the lowest shear rates. The flow properties of the gelcontaining materials are related quantitatively to those of the linear material through a new parameter, the rate of viscous energy dissipation, and by two material constants. These are a yield stress and a pseudo zero-shear viscosity, both of these being functions of the amount, crosslink density, and particle size of the gel phase.This investigation is concerned with the changes that the addition of gel to a substantially linear, amorphous polymer bring about in the fundamental rheological properties of the bulk material, and how these changes are related to the improved processing properties of the material. Probably the most important factor in understanding the behavior of these systems is the steady-state viscosity, i.e., the actual relation between shear stress and shear rate over as wide a range as possible.It has been known that the processing properties of raw rubber could be markedly improved by operations which increased the amount of gel, or crosslinked material, in the polymer. The observed improvements in such properties as reduced swelling on emergence from an extruder die or calender nip, smoother surface finish, better shape retention, and higher extrusion rates are in many ways similar to those produced by the addition of carbon black or other fillers to the rubber. At first thought, this may seem completely contrary to what would be expected from the addition of an essentially nonviscous material to a viscous polymer melt.