Influence of the molecular weight and physical properties of a thermoplastic polymer on its dynamic wetting behavior

Valentin Rougier
2023
Journal paper

The wetting dynamics of molten thermoplastic polymers, which are known to influence the force balance of the triple line, are not understood properly despite their importance in many industrial processes. In particular, the influence of the molecular weight Mn on the polymer dynamic wetting behavior is still unclear. In this work, we investigate how the dynamic equilibrium of the moving contact line between poly(ethylene glycol) and cellulosic substrates is influenced by Mn. After a careful assessment of the rel-evant material properties, dynamic wetting experiments are conducted using the Wilhelmy method. Our investigations reveal an influence of Mn on the evolution of all of the measured quantities. The dynamic wetting behavior is shown to relate to the polymer chain size, and to display a transition at the critical weight of entanglement Mc . This study should help defining guidelines for formulating and choosing polymers for various processes, such as composites manufacturing.(c) 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Valentin Rougier
2023
Journal paper

Abstract

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https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/301019?ln=en

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Polymer

A polymer (ˈpɒlᵻmər; Greek poly-, "many" + -mer, "part") is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules called macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life. Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to biological structure and function.

Wetting

Wetting is the ability of a liquid to maintain contact with a solid surface, resulting from intermolecular interactions when the two are brought together. This happens in presence of a gaseous phase or another liquid phase not miscible with the first one. The degree of wetting (wettability) is determined by a force balance between adhesive and cohesive forces. Wetting is important in the bonding or adherence of two materials. Wetting and the surface forces that control wetting are also responsible for other related effects, including capillary effects.

Thermoplastic

A thermoplastic, or thermosoft plastic, is any plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight. The polymer chains associate by intermolecular forces, which weaken rapidly with increased temperature, yielding a viscous liquid. In this state, thermoplastics may be reshaped and are typically used to produce parts by various polymer processing techniques such as injection molding, compression molding, calendering, and extrusion.