Modeling macromolecular movement in polymer melts and its relation to nonlinear rheology

We present direct evidence of the macromolecular network behavior at high deformation rates based on macroscopic simulation of these systems by a group of elastics as a model of flexible-chain polymer concentrated solutions or melts. It was shown that at low deformation rates, the disentanglement process really takes place providing a possibility to irreversible deformations (flow), while at high deformation rates, the dominating effect is the formation of large inhomogeneous structures (“grains” or “bundles”) consisting of flocks of entangled chains. This is a model of the deformation induced flow-to-rubbery transition, which makes the irreversible flow impossible. The attempt to increase the deformation rate leads to the rupture of elastics. So, we constructed a model for the deformation-induced fluid-to-rubber transition at high rates and confirmed it by direct measurements of elastic-to-plastic strain ratio as a function of deformation rate.