Shear viscosity of carbon black filled polypropylene at very low shear stresses

The shear viscosity of carbon black filled polypropylene with a range of different carbon blacks was investigated. This was accomplished using (a) a constant shear stress creep instrument, (b) a cone-plate rotational rheometer, (c) a capillary extrusion rheometer. It was found that stresses exist for these compounds below which there are only finite deformations and no steady flow. Much attention was given to measurements of creep at low stresses, especially in the neighborhood of yield values. The magnitudes of yield stresses obtained from such creep measurements are significantly lower than those obtained using standard extrapolation to zero shear rate of higher stress data from rotational instruments. The shear viscosity behavior near the yield value differs significantly depending upon the carbon black used. A high shear viscosity was observed ([approximately][10.sup.9] to [10.sup.10] Pa [center dot] s) plateau in some compounds.
INTRODUCTION Carbon black has long been the major reinforcing filler used in polymers, its most important application being with elastomers for tires. It also plays a useful role with thermoplastics [...]