B. Wessling

Critical Shear Rate -
the Instability Reason for the Creation of Dissipative Structures in Polymers

Z. Phys. Chem, 191, 119- 135 (1995)

The non-equilibrium thermodynamical description of heterogeneous polymer systems, presented some years ago by the author*, is being improved by the analysis of the critical parameter. First results are presented: the critical parameter is a critical shear rate, above which melt fracture is occuring. The consequence of this is, that dispersion is only taking place under melt fracture conditions, after which structure formation occurs self-organizing. The theory might become useful for colloidal systems in general inclusing polymer blends, the phenomenon of impact modification, or microemulsions in particular.

Quantitative descriptions including a "dispersion law" is being presented.

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*B. Wessling, Synth. Met. 45, 119 - 149 (1991)