Chain Deformation in Entangled Polymer Melts at Re-entrant Corners

Abstract

Using SANS to map the deformation of individual polymer chains in the vicinity of re-entrant corners in a contraction−expansion flow, we show that stress singularities at such corners, predicted by formulations of fluid dynamics that lack a molecular basis, do not cause extreme deformation of the chains. Multiscale modeling based on a nonlinear tube theory incorporating appropriate relaxation processes quantitatively reproduces the observed scattering, thus providing further evidence for the universality of the tube model for polymer flow.