Non-Linear Viscoelasticity of Filled Polymer Melts: Stress and Strain Amplification Approach

The aim of the present study is to develop an analytical stress and strain amplification approach (SSAA) for description of non-linear mechanical response in polymer melts containing spherical hard inclusions in a non-dilute regime. The main presumption of this approach is that non-aggregating filler particles reinforce a polymer matrix purely hydrodynamically. The SSAA is verified by comparison with two other approaches existing in literature, when only stress or strain is amplified, and selected experimental results.