Identification of thermal shear bands in a low molecular weight polymer melt under oscillatory strain field

摘要

We present real-time micro-thermal measurements of the response of viscous fluids (low molecular weight unentangled and entangled polymer melts) submitted to an oscillatory mechanical shear strain (in conditions of conventional viscoelastic measurements). We show that thermal changes occur at the early steps of the applied deformation. A succession of thermodynamic states is identified showing the formation of non-uniform temperature shear bands along the strain direction. These thermal shear bands indicate the coexistence of cold and warm zones appearing in phase with the deformation. The synchronism of the temperature variation with the mechanical strain reveals a reversible process of elastic type indicating that viscous liquids might exhibit thermoelastic behaviors.