Discretized modeling for centrifugal spinning of viscoelastic liquids

A theoretical investigation of the behavior of Newtonian and viscoelastic jets during centrifugal spinning (CS) is presented in this paper. We used a discretized model, which provides a numerical framework to solve complex continuum equations, to model the spinning behavior of the viscoelastic Boger fluid. The jet was modeled as a series of beads connected with massless springs. After defining the viscoelastic, surface tension and aerodynamic drag forces for each bead, we solve Newton's second law of motion to obtain the trajectory of the jet. We first compared the jet profile predictions of the Newtonian fluid from the bead-spring model with an asymptotic thin-fiber model and obtained consistent results. Finally, we performed a parameter study to understand the effects of various properties such as viscoelasticity, surface tension and process conditions on the behavior of the viscoelastic jet. We also compared the simulation results with the experimental observations of PIB/PB Boger fluids to validate the discretized model. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.