Modeling of Non-isothermal Film Blowing with Integral Constitutive Equations

Abstract

Abstract Non-isothermal, melt film-blowing is analysed by means of a nonlinear integral constitutive equation that incorporates shear history effects, spectrum of relaxation times, shear thinning and extension thinning or thickening. The temperature history, as predicted by the simultaneously solved energy equation, is introduced into the constitutive equation by means of the appropriate shift factor incorporated in the linear modulus of the constitutive equation. The resulting system of integrodifferential equations is solved by finite element discretization and Newton iteration. Bubble shape, velocity, temperature, stress and thickness profiles are predicted simultaneously. Predicted film thickness, temperature and stress profiles of blowing of polystyrene are compared with experimental data taken from the literature.