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High-pressure rheological analysis of CO2-induced melting point depression and viscosity reduction of poly(ε-caprolactone)

Curia, Silvio; De Focatiis, Davide S.A.; Howdle, Steven M.

High-pressure rheological analysis of CO2-induced melting point depression and viscosity reduction of poly(ε-caprolactone) Thumbnail


Authors

Silvio Curia



Abstract

High-pressure rheology has been used to assess the effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) on the melting point (Tm) and viscosity of poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) over a range of temperatures and pressures up to 300 bar over a wide range of shear rates. Plots of the storage and loss moduli against temperature show a significant shift of Tm to lower temperatures in the presence of CO2, indicating that the polymer crystals melt at temperatures much lower than the ambient pressure Tm. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the viscosity of two PCL grades with different molecular weight (Mn ~ 10 kDa and 80 kDa) was also detected upon increasing the CO2 pressure to 300 bar. Experimental viscosity data were fitted to the Carreau model to quantify the extent of the plasticising effects on the zero-shear viscosity and relaxation time under different conditions. Similar analyses were conducted under high-pressure nitrogen, to compare the effects obtained in the presence of a non-plasticising gas.

Citation

Curia, S., De Focatiis, D. S., & Howdle, S. M. (2015). High-pressure rheological analysis of CO2-induced melting point depression and viscosity reduction of poly(ε-caprolactone). Polymer, 69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2015.05.026

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 14, 2015
Online Publication Date May 21, 2015
Publication Date Jul 9, 2015
Deposit Date Sep 5, 2017
Publicly Available Date Sep 5, 2017
Journal Polymer
Print ISSN 0032-3861
Electronic ISSN 0032-3861
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 69
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2015.05.026
Keywords Poly(ε-caprolactone), Supercritical CO2, Rheology
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/757318
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032386115004681?via%3Dihub
Contract Date Sep 5, 2017

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