The transition between undiluted and oligomer-diluted states of nearly monodisperse polystyrenes in extensional flow

We have measured the startup and steady extensional viscosity of two narrow molar mass distributed (NMMD) polystyrenes, a 910 kg/mole and a 545 kg/mole, diluted in a NMMD 4.29 kg/mole styrene oligomer, with a wide concentration range from 90 down to 17%. The constant interchain pressure model, proposed by Rasmussen and Huang (Rheol Acta 53(3):199–208 (2014a)), predicts the extensional viscosity well for the dilutions with lower concentrations. However, for the 70 and 90% 545 kg/mole samples which represent the transition between the diluted and undiluted states, the model predictions are less satisfactory. Another concept based on interchain pressure, proposed by Wagner (Rheol Acta 53(10):765–777 (2014)), also shows agreement with the measured data.