Study of molecular parameters influencing polymer drag reduction

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:6526259

Wade, R H

The effects of 3 molecular parameters on drag reduction were studied under turbulent-flow conditions. Drag-reduction capability of linear polymers is altered by branching. Many short side chains decrease efficiency, while fewer but long branches increase it. The drag reduction of polyelectrolytes can be reversibly destroyed or enhanced by changes in configuration resulting from changes in pH or ionic strength or by complexing with counterion polyelectrolytes. Cross-linking can enhance or destroy the drag-reducing capability of a linear molecule, depending on the degree of cross-linking. Polymer degradation in turbulent flow is somewhat less in branched and cross-linked molecules than in linear ones.

• Research Organization: Naval Undersea Research and Development Center, San Diego, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6526259
• Report Number(s): NUC-TP-473
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360403* -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Mechanical Properties-- (-1987)
360405 -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Degradation & Erosion-- (-1987)
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CROSS-LINKING
DRAG
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
MECHANICS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
TURBULENT FLOW