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A new technique to provide melt elasticity using flexible fine fibers prepared from a polymer with high melting point is demonstrated. A polymer composite of poly(propylene) with a small amount of fine fibers of poly(butylene terephthalate) shows marked strain-hardening behavior in elongational viscosity, i.e., a rapid increase in the transient elongational viscosity with time or strain. The blend also shows prominent normal stress difference at steady shear. These elastic properties have not been observed for polymer composites with rigid fibers and can be applicable to the modification of rheological properties and thus the improvement of processability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the improvement of melt elasticity for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-HV) by adding weak gel. The researchers purchased microbial PHB-HV from Aldrich and obtained poly(epichlorohydrin) (PECH) from Daiso. They also used a capillary rheometer to measure steady-state shear viscosity at different shear rates. They found that adding a little amount of xPECH significantly improves the melt elasticity for PHB-HV.