Rheological behavior and transport of molten polymers and gas–non-Newtonian fluids

Abstract

Abstract Indeed, most of the molten polymer and polymer-based composite materials are non-Newtonian in nature and have a variety of industrial operations involving handling and processing of polymer-based fluids and solutions. It is very significant to describe the processing of polymer melts and solutions; however, understanding of transport processes involving the flow of complex fluids is very essential to achieve efficient and sustainable unit operations (e.g., extrusion and molding) experienced in the industrial processes. Before presenting the single and multiphase polymer-based non-Newtonian flows, important rheological properties, which influence the flows of highly viscous power law polymer liquids, have been illustrated here. Gas–liquid multiphase non-Newtonian flows have been described in detail because of their industrial significance. Numerical and empirical commentary of cocurrent gas–non-Newtonian flows and non-Newtonian bubbly flow reactors has been expressed in view of their flow regimes, transition boundaries of flow regimes, void fraction, and pressure drop modeling because of importance of such details related to the industries within broad spectrum of chemical engineering and technology.