Copolymers for Drag Reduction in Marine Propulsion: New Molecular Structures with Enhanced Effectiveness
Abstract
Responsive synthetic copolymers are being tailored with specific microstructural features in order to elucidate drag reduction behavior and acoustical attenuation in aqueous media. Studies suggest that the major role of the polymer may be that of ordering the solvent in the immediate vicinity of the macromolecular coil. The key to varying fluid response under flow conditions lies in synthesizing specific polymer microstructures by appropriate monomer incorporation. Resulting microphase separation appears to alter solvation characteristics upon extension in fluid flow. New methods of data analysis allow for the first time direct comparisons of polymer type by assessing drag reduction efficiency as a function of polymer volume fraction. A master curve has been developed from this approach which yields an extensibility parameter suggested by a number of theoretical drag reduction models. Dynamic light scattering studies and photophysical techniques are being employed to study microphase organization. Rotating disk rheological measurements are being used to study drag reduction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA251874
Entities
People
- C. L. Mccormick
- R. D. Hester
Organizations
- University of Southern Mississippi