The work presents both, simulation and experimental findings of the research of two LDPE melts using a flatcoextrusion flow visualization cell. The simulation is performed by FEM analysis with full u-v-p-τ numerical schemeemploying viscoelastic constitutive equations. The predicted stresses, velocities and interface location have been foundto be in a good agreement with the measurements. The experimental analysis shows that pronounced wave instabilitiesare caused by the minor layer break at the merge point of the layers, and extensional viscosity is a driving parameterhere. A recently proposed ‘TNSD sign criterion’ (Zatloukal et al, Int Polym Proc., 16(2) 198-207 2001), whichquantifies the relative stretching of the layers in the merging area has been successfully tested for the prediction of theonset of wave interfacial instabilities in this type of the die geometry. Moreover, rheological and molecularcharacteristics (MWD) were experimentally determined for different batches of LDPE. The results show thatextensional viscosity may significantly vary for different batches even if shear viscosities and MWDs are very similar.FEM analysis together with TNSD value calculation was consequently performed to determine the stability of thecoextrusion flow in the flat die for different batches of the material and the effect was found considerable.
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