A Study of Drag Reduction and Adsorption of Polymer Solutions.
Abstract
A study was made of the adsorption from aqueous solution of polyethylene oxide (Polyox) and polyacrylamide onto Pyrex, silica, and stainless-steel surfaces. This investigation was undertaken to determine if a correlation exists between the structure of adsorbed polymer films at solid/liquid interfaces and the observed ability of such polymers to reduce the drag in liquid flow systems. In this study the amount of polymer adsorbed by high-surface-area adsorbents was determined by measuring the difference in polymer concentration before and after adsorption. The thickness of adsorbed polymer films on clean, flat surfaces was determined by ellipsometry. It was concluded that Polyox and polyacrylamide molecules adsorbed in thin films, lying relatively flat at the interface with no large loops projecting into the solution. In a parallel study percent drag reduction (DR) was measured in a rotating disk apparatus. The totality of the evidence suggests that for the systems studied the composition of the surface and polymer adsorption on the surfaces are not related to DR. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 27, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0719385
Entities
People
- C. R. Singleterry
- P. Peyser
- R. C. Little
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory