Dynamics of Flow-Induced Structure Formation in Drag Reducing Polymer Solutions

Work on the effects of strong shear on the molecular weight stability finds small degradation in the polymers' average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Experiments with HPAM and PAM solutions in a large channel flow loop at Re ≥ 20,000 provide evidence of the importance of chain degradation to changes in drag reduction with time. Losses in molecular weight are small in the case of HPAM and do not correspond to losses in drag reduction. The PAM solutions demonstrate no change in the molecular weight distribution over the first 13--16% loss in DR followed by a loss in the high molecular weight tail at greater losses in DR.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Liberatore, Matthew Walter

Contributors dc:contributor

• McHugh, Anthony J.

• Engineering, Chemical

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3111568

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/82358