Abstract
A blend polymeric system composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA or PM) and polystyrene (PS) dissolved in chloroform was rheologically studied. The viscosities ${\eta}_{bl}$ of the blend system with various blending ratios ${\chi}$ changing from zero (pure PS solution) to unity (pure PMMA solution) were measured at $25{\circ}C$ as a function of shear rates ${\dot{s}}$ by using a Couette type viscometer. ${\eta}_{bl}$ at a given ${\dot{s}}$ decreased exponentially with ${\chi}$ reaching asymptotic constant value of ${\eta}_{bl}$ ; ${\eta}_{bl}$ at a given ${\chi}$ is greater at a smaller ${\dot{s}}$. These results are explained by using Ree-Erying's theory of viscosity, ${\eta}_{bl}=(x_1{\beta}_1/{\alpha}_1)_{b}_1＋ (x_2{\beta}_2/{\alpha}_2)_{bl}[sinh^{-1}{\beta}_2(bl) {\dot{s}}]/{\beta}_2(bl){\dot{s}}$. The Gibbs activation energy ${\Delta}G_i^\neq$(i = 2 for non-Newtonian units) entering into the intrinsic relaxation time ${\beta}$ is represented by a linear combination ${\Delta}G_i^\neq(bl) ={\chi}{\Delta}G_i^{\neq}_{iPM}+(1-{\chi}){\Delta}G_i^{\neq}_{iPS}$;the intrinsic shear modulus$[[\alpha}_i]^{-1}$ is also represented by $[{\alpha}_i(bl)]^{-1}={\chi}[{\alpha}_{iPM}]^{-1}+(1-{\chi})[{\alpha}_{iPS}]^{-1}$ and the fraction of area on a shear surface occupied by the ith flow units $x_i(bl)$ is similarly represented, i.e., $x_i(bl) = {\chi}x_{iPM}+(1-{\chi})x_{iPS}$. By using these ideas the Ree-Eyring equation was rewritten which explained the experimental results satisfactorily.