Abstract
A study of postextrusion relaxation (shrinkage) rates identified two separate processes, only one of which is influenced by carbon black structure and surface area. One of these processes is thought to be a solidlike fast elastic recovery and was found to be influenced by carbon black and polymer characteristics. The other process reflected slow randomization of oriented molecular chains: it was mainly influenced by polymer nature and carbon black had almost no effect. In the previous paper of this series, work with various carbon blacks in SBR–1500 indicated that both types of polymer deformation originate within the converging flow region at the die entrance, where extensional flow takes place. In the present work the extensional flow behavior of five polymers (filled with various carbon blacks) was examined at elevated temperatures. The magnitude of shrinkage caused by molecular alignment was related to extensional viscosity of the rubbers. This confirms the hypothesis stated above. Extensional viscosity was measured using the previously described instrument, which is inexpensive to construct, easy to operate, and can be attached to any standard stress–strain tester. The characteristics of extensional flow are defined and it is shown that for polymeric materials it differs substantially from shear flow, since a rapid orientation of the molecular chains takes place during the extensional flow. The effect of carbon black on the extensional viscosity at elevated temperatures is illustrated.