Kinematics of the stick–slip capillary flow of high-density polyethylene

A study of the kinematics of the stick–slip capillary flow of high-density polyethylene has been carried out in this work by using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The experiments covered a wide range of shear rates and the velocity maps and profiles across the die were obtained for the different regimes of the discontinuous flow curve. In the low shear rate region, the melt exhibited shear thinning without slip. In the unstable stick–slip regime, an alternating behavior between full adhesion and slip was observed, whereas both, the maximum velocity and the slip velocity of the melt, changed continuously during pressure oscillations. In addition, non-homogenous slip, characterized by regions with and without slip at the die wall, was occasionally observed during the oscillations. In contrast to the general assumption, the flow in the high shear rate region was found to be unstable, and characterized by high frequency pressure oscillations. A steep rise of the slip velocity took place from the onset of the stick–slip regime and reached values higher than 70% of the maximum velocity for the profiles in the high shear rate branch. However, a true plug flow was never observed due to shear thinning of the melt. Finally, a direct proof of the Mooney hypothesis to account for slip in polymer melts is given on the basis of the comparison of velocity profiles measured in the low and high shear branch.