Using filament stretching rheometry to predict strand formation and “processability” in adhesives and other non-Newtonian fluids

The spinning of polymeric fibers, the processing of numerous foodstuffs and the peel & tack characteristics of adhesives is associated with the formation, stability and, ultimately, the longevity of thin fluid ‘strands’. This tendency to form strands is usually described in terms of the tackiness of the fluid or by heuristic concepts such as ‘stringiness ’ [Lakrout et al., J. Adhesion 69, 307 (1999)]. The dynamics of such processes are complicated due to spatially and temporally non-homogeneous growth of extensional stresses, the action of capillary forces and the evaporation of volatile solvents. We describe the development and application of a simple instrument referred to as a microfilament rheometer (MFR) that can be used to readily differentiate between the dynamical response of different pressure-sensitive adhesive fluid formulations. The device relies on a quantitative observation of the rate of extensional thinning or ‘necking’ of a thin viscous or viscoelastic fluid filament in which the solvent is free to evaporate across the free surface. This high-resolution measurement of the radial profile provides a direct indication of the ultimate time to break-up of the fluid filament. This critical tim