Online measurement of rheological properties of PVC/wood‐flour composites

By using a factorial design approach, this study examined the effect of the component materials on the viscoelastic properties of PVC/wood‐flour composites. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the effects of wood‐flour content, acrylic modifier content, and plasticizer content on the die swell ratio and viscosity of the composites measured online on a conical twin‐screw extrusion capillary rheometer. The viscoelastic properties of the samples also were measured using dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Wood‐flour content and acrylic modifier content were the two important variables affecting the die swell ratio, whereas the addition of a low level of plasticizer did not affect this ratio. The die swell increased with the increased acrylic modifier content, but it was reduced considerably by adding wood flour into the PVC matrix. The true viscosity of neat PVC and PVC/wood‐flour composites decreased with the plasticizer content, irrespective of the acrylic modifier content. However, the addition of acrylic modifier significantly increased the viscosity of unfilled PVC, while an opposite trend was observed for the composites, owing to the differing effect of acrylic modifier on the melt elasticity and viscosity of these materials. J. Vinyl Addit. Technol. 10:121–128, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.