AbstractAn experimental study of the viscosity and principal normal stress difference of a polystyrene melt filled with aramid (Kevlar), glass, and cellulose fibers is reported. The influence of loading level and mastication on the rheological properties is discussed. The effects of mixing and mastication on fiber damage are considered. Glass fibers break down rapidly to very small aspect ratios, while aramid shows a “kinked” structure, with kinks occurring every 100 μm. A mechanism is proposed for fiber breakage based on buckling during rotation in shear flow. It is found that addition of fibers increases the viscosity in the same manner as a reduction in temperature, and data may be superposed by reduced plotting. This indicates that the viscosity increase is due solely to enhanced viscous dissipation in the matrix and not to interparticle forces as is the case with smaller particles. The principal normal stress difference increases at fixed shear stress with fiber loading. The extent of increase depends upon fiber loading, aspect ratio, and mod
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