Drag reduction of the highest molecular weight fractions of polyethylene oxide

Abstract

The analysis of drag reduction produced by high molecular weight fractions of Polyox shows that the slope of the drag reduction curve on a von Kármán plot for a narrow fraction is proportional to concentration and molecular weight. Polydisperse polymer solutions have drag reduction curves characteristic of the high molecular weight tail alone. Experimental results are presented on the shape of the distribution and the drag reduction of cumulative fractions containing the highest molecular weights.