Multi-scale molding and numerical simulation of the flow-induced crystallization of polymer

A numerical simulation for the isothermal flow-induced crystallization (FIC) of polymer melt in a simple shear flow is presented. The model is based on a two-phase suspension model established for crystallization and has the advantage of taking into account the polymer melt rheological behavior through the first normal stress difference calculation. A FENE dumbbell model and a rigid dumbbell model are used to describe the amorphous phase and the semi-crystalline phase, respectively. Crystallization is described as a spherulitical nucleation and growth process. The results show that the short-term shear has a large effect on the crystallization dynamics of polymer.

The evolution of flow-induced crystallinity for shear rate 2 s−1 at different characteristic locations. One can notice that near the location y = 0.1, the polymer undergoes a weak shearing and crystallizes slowly; from the location y = 0.1 to 0.9, the flow-induced crystallinity increases gradually.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► The model is based on a two-phase suspension model established for crystallization.
► A FENE dumbbell model is used to describe the amorphous phase.
► A rigid dumbbell model is used to describe the semi-crystalline phase.
► The crystallinity is calculated through the evaluation of first normal stress difference.