Primitive Chain Network Simulations for Shear Rheology of Poly(propylene carbonate) Melts

Abstract

Although chemistry dependence in the non-linear rheology of polymers has been rather established for uniaxial elongations, it has not been frequently discussed for fast shear. In this study, to see the effect of orientation-dependent monomeric friction on the shear rheology, we conducted primitive chain network simulations for a few poly(propylene carbonate) melts, for which we have determined the friction model from the uniaxial data recently [Yang et al., Nihon Reoroji Gakkaishi, 50, 127-135 (2022)]. The simulation qualitatively reproduced typical non-linear behaviors, such as shear thinning and stress overshoot, under fast shears. The agreement with experimental data became better when the friction was varied according to the segment orientation. In particular, the shear rate dependence of the peak position for the stress overshoot (i.e., the peak stress and the strain at the peak) was better reproduced. This result implies that chemistry-dependent friction may probably be discussed from the stress overshoot under high shear.