Extensional flow induced coalescence in polymer blends

The theories derived for description of the shear flow induced coalescence in polymer blends were modified for coalescence induced by extensional flow. It was shown that the shape of the dependence of probability, P, that the collision of droplets will be followed by their fusion, on the droplet size is similar for coalescence induced by shear and extensional flow. It was found that dependence of Pc on the droplet radius contains a part relating to hydrodynamic interaction between spherical droplets which is not described by the modification of Janssen's (Janssen 1993; Janssen and Meijer 1995) and Elmendorp's (Elmendorp 1986; Elmendorp and Van der Vegt 1986) theories.