Commentary on rheology of polymers in narrow gaps

The rheological properties of unentangled polymers that melts at very narrow gaps, were investigated. It is observed that when the polymer material has strong bonding to the rheological platens, the propensity to exhibit the solid-like plateau is enhanced. Other micro or sub-micro scale rheological measurements were conducted to test the consistency of the results with the stiffening observed in the Martinoty-Noirez Microrheometry experiments. The results show that the elastic stiffening is temperature dependent and disappears at temperature well above the glass transition temperature of the sample.