Flows of Polymer Melts through Nanopores: Experiments and Modelling

Abstract

The polymer melts flow behaviors through nanopores are investigated by using the nanoporous template wetting technique in our study. The experimental observation indicates that the meniscus rises according to a (time)^1/2 law which agrees with the Lucas-Washburn law. Comparing the experimental results with the Lucas-Washburn equation, we also demonstrate that the viscosities of polymer melts decrease in their flows through nanopores and the induced rheological behavior is caused by the nanoconfinement of nanopores.