Longitudinal dispersion in rectilinear flow of dilute polymeric liquids: likely role of stress-induced migration

Abstract

The likely role of stress-induced macromolecular migration in interpreting certain anomalous observations in longitudinal dispersion is discussed. In majority of the cases considered, the migration phenomenon affords an explanation for such behaviour, although in some instances, the operational regime for the dispersion process can itself explain the anomalies. In those cases, where stress-induced migration could be a contributory factor, a semi-quantitative discussion based on our current understanding of the phenomenon is presented. Such a development, though rather simplistic in nature, enables (at least) a semi-quantitative elucidation of the pertinent variables which may affect the longitudinal dispersion processes involving polymeric media.