The flow instabilities of polymer melts known as viscoelastic fluid were discussed in this report. Especially the occurrence mechanisms of two typical flow instabilities of “Shark Skin” and “Melt Fracture” were experimentally analyzed and the occurrence criteria for the flow instabilities were clarified with the viscoelastic flow simulation. As for “Shark Skin” region, the surface roughness at the die exit was observed without the pressure fluctuation and the flow pattern fluctuation at the wall vicinity in the die land. This result indicates that “Shark Skin” occurs at the die exit. As for “Melt Fracture” region, the periodical oscillation of the flow pattern and the periodical pressure fluctuation corresponding to the periodical distortion of the extrudate were recognized in the die land without the periodical oscillation of the flow pattern and the periodical pressure fluctuation in the reservoir (entry region of the die land). This result indicates that “Melt Fracture” is initiated at the die entry and occurs in the die land. Furthermore with the viscoelastic flow simulation, it was confirmed that the occurrence of “Shark Skin” depends on the wall shear stress and the occurrence of “Melt Fracture” depends on the maximum normal stress of flow direction.
