Lecture 13

Mechanical Properties of Polymers

PE-301

Dr Atif Javaid
atifjavaid@uet.edu.pk
Department of Polymer & Process Engineering,
University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore
2nd October, 2018
Outline
 Viscoelasticity
 Linear viscoelastic behaviour
Viscoelasticity
 Viscoelastic behaviour, as the name suggests, is a
combination of elasticity & viscosity.
 It combines the behaviour of two particular types
of ideal material: Elastic solid, and Viscous liquid
 Viscoelastic behaviour can be described by various
Rheological Models consisting of springs (for
elasticity) & dashpots (for viscosity).
 Viscoelastic materials possess both elastic and flow
characteristics.
 Elasticity
 Stress is directly proportional to strain (Hooke’s law).
 Elastic solids has a definite shape
 Can be deformed into new equilibrium shape with application of
external forces and therefore stores energy during deformation
 On removal of external forces, it regain its shape again because
of the energy available
Viscosity
 Stress is directly proportional to strain rate (Newton’s law of
viscosity)
 Viscous liquid has no definite shape and can flow irreversibly
under application of external forces. Viscosity is measure of
non-crystalline material’s resistance to deformation.
 For crystallic structures, plastic deformation occurs by
dislocation motions and for non-crystallic structures, plastic
deformations are due to viscous flow.
 Viscoelasticity
Load

(Load)
t0 t1 Time
Strain
(Elastic)
Time ε = σ/E
t0 t1
Strain

(Viscous)
t0 t1 Time dε/dt = σ/η
Strain

(Viscoelastic)
Time
t0 t1
 Examples of viscoelastic fluids
□ Paint (&) □ Toothpaste
□ Crude oil □ Grease
□ Asphalt □ Foodstuffs
□ Cosmetics □ Ketchup
□ Biological fluids □ Dough
□ Blood □ Salad dressing
□ Protein solutions □ Plastics
□ Pulp and coal slurries □ Polymer melts
□ Rubbers
□ Polymer solutions
Viscoelastic behaviour of polymers

A polymer exhibit intermediate range of properties

from an elastic solid to viscous liquid depending on
the temperature and time;
Bouncing Putty: A silicon product, flows over a
period of time. Fractures like a ductile solid when
deformed rapidly, bounces like a rubber when
dropped
This type of response that combines the liquidish
and solidish features in polymers is termed
viscoelasticity.
 Linear viscoelastic behaviour
 According to the Newton’s law of viscosity, stress σ is proportional
to the velocity gradient in the liquid
𝜕𝑉
𝜎=𝜂
Plate A 𝜕𝑦
σxy
When a stress σ acts on the plate, the plate
y Vx moves with respect to the bottom.

𝑑𝑒
σ=𝜂
x 𝑑𝑡
 For the velocity gradient in xy plane,
𝜕𝑉𝑥 𝜕𝑉𝑦
𝜎𝑥𝑦 = 𝜂+
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
 Since 𝑉𝑥=𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝑡 and 𝑉y=𝜕v/𝜕𝑡 with u and v being displacements in x and y
direction;
𝜕 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑒𝑥𝑦
𝜎𝑥𝑦 = 𝜂 + =𝜂
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑡
Summary
 Viscoelasticity
 Linear viscoelastic behaviour