Superposed flow properties of ceramic powder‐filled polymer melts

Abstract Complicated shape products from ceramic composite materials are nowadays intensively processed via flow molding technologies. Rheological properties of these materials are essential for the clarification of the deformation behavior through channels under various conditions. In this article, ceramic powder (zirconia) was mixed (10–50 vol%) with polypropylene, paraffin, and stearic acid in an elastic extruder. Parallel superposed steady and oscillatory shear flows were measured on a cone‐plate rheometer. Flow properties at high shear rates were evaluated on a capillary rheometer. The effects of powder content, shear rate/angular frequency, and temperature were clarified. The studied filled systems showed highly non‐Newtonian behavior and apparent yield stress; their viscoelastic properties were influenced remarkably under the superposed shear flow at low shear rate and angular frequency, and they showed significantly different behavior from unfilled and fiber‐filled systems. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers