Conformation of single polymer molecule in a slot coating flow

Abstract

To satisfy good mechanical and optical properties of polymer-coated film products, it will be indispensable to elucidate the molecular orientation of polymer chains within coating liquids in coating flows. Using hybridized numerical method between computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations can provide the useful information for the better quality control of coated films. Flexible polymer chains, e.g., lambda-DNA molecules here, change their conformation according to the flow strength and the flow type. The molecular conformation within the coated film on the web or substrate is quite different, because the polymer chains experience the complicated flow strength and flow types in flow field. Especially in the slot coating flow, these chains are more extended by the extension-like flow field generated in the free surface curvature just beyond the downstream die region. Also, the polymer chain extension beneath the free surface can be affected by the die geometry, e.g., the coating gap, changing flow field.