COMSOL Multiphysics® Software Simulation Application for Thermoplastics Viscosity Measurement

Q. Guo [1], S. Ahmed [2],
[1] EHC Canada, Inc., Oshawa, ON, Canada
[2] University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada
Published in 2016

Present study discusses a new method of how to apply numerical simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics® software to improve the accuracy of polymer melts viscosity measurements. The main emphasis is placed on evaluating the effects of entrance and exit geometry of a capillary rheometer on viscosity measurement. By combining experimental and COMSOL® simulation results, an accurate Bagley correction factor was found for a low density polyethylene. The results showed the Bagley correction factor based on the COMSOL® simulation was different from the experimental results. The method which combines experimental and simulation data can give an optimized value for Bagley correction factor for other thermoplastics. And it will be used to precisely predict polymer melt viscosity for online rheometers attached to an extrusion line.