Giacomin, A. Jeffrey

(53) Ding, F. and A.J. Giacomin, “Die Lines in Plastics Extrusion,” Polymer Engineering and Science, (Accepted February 25, 2003).
(52) Wang, Y.-C., S. Gunasekaran, and A.J. Giacomin, “The Lodge Rubberlike Liquid Behavior for Cheese in Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear,” Applied Rheology, 11(6), 312-319 (November/December, 2001).
(51) Kolitawong, C. and A.J. Giacomin, “Dynamic Response of a Shear Stress Transducer in the Sliding Plate Rheometer,” Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 102, 71-96 (2002).
(50) Hade, A.J. and A.J. Giacomin, “Power Law Numerical Solution for Post-Die Extrusion of Plastic Pipe,” Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 41(1), 1-17 (2002).
(49) Ding, F., A.J. Giacomin and J.C. Slattery, “Sheet Coating by Drawdown of Extruded Polymer,” Journal of Coatings Technology, 73(921), 127-134 (October, 2001).
(48) Kolitawong, C. and A.J. Giacomin, “Axial Flow Between Eccentric Cylinders,” Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering 40(3), 373-394 (2001).
(47) Fan Ding, Lian Zhao, A.J. Giacomin and J. D. Gander, “Flaring Dies to Suppress Die Drool,” Polymer Engineering and Science, 40(10), 2113-2123 (October, 2000).
(46) Hade, A.J. and A.J. Giacomin, “Wire Coating Under Vacuum,” Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 123(1), 100-105 (2001).

Selected Awards, Honors and Societies

Named Professor of the French Academy of Sciences 1993-1994
3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, 1995

Visiting Professorships

Summary

Professor Giacomin's group explores the role played by rheology in plastics processing. This group develops rheometers for measuring the rheological properties of molten plastics. His laboratory is equipped with a special instrument for measuring nonlinear viscoelastic properties: a sliding plate rheometer incorporating a shear stress transducer. With this equipment, Giacomin's group probes the kinetics of flow-induced disentanglement and re-entanglement in molten plastics. Thus, they explore the governing role played by rheology in plastics processing operations. Specific investigations include plastic-pipe extrusion, programmed-parison profiling in blow molding, and melt fracture in film blowing.

The sliding plate rheometer is also used to explore wall slip in molten plastics, and its pivotal effect on processing. Specifically, Professor Giacomin's group is now exploring how wall slip affects extrusion flow instabilities. These matter because they govern the maximum throughput in extrusion.

Experimental and theoretical investigations on die-lip build-up (die drool) in extrusion and on die line formation are also underway. Here, Giacomin's group aims to explain the mysterious build-up of unwanted material on the open faces of extrusion dies. Die drool affects how often extrusion lines must be shut-down for die cleaning.

Giacomin's group uses real-time neutron radiography to visualize flow in injection molding. Neutron radiography allows the polymer to be viewed through the walls of metal molds and of processing equipment; a unique collaboration with nuclear engineering. This new approach supersedes classical approaches to flow visualization by inserting glass windows in the process equipment, or by stopping the flow at intermediate points in the mold filling cycle (called short shots).

Plastic pipe solidifies slowly when extruded. The melt thus flows under its own weight. Called sag, this is why plastic tubes have imperfect shapes. These wall thickness variations cause material waste, usually exceeding 5%. Giacomin's group models pipe sag and other aspects of pipe extrusion. Giacomin is writing a book on plastic pipe.

Professor Giacomin and his students have published more than 50 journal articles on blow molding, pipe extrusion, wire coating, sheet coating, cellulose fiber filled materials, ultrasonic property measurement, sliding plate rheometry and on the nonlinear viscoelasticity of molten plastics and cheese. His research has attracted industrial support from 3M, Curwood (Bemis), Dow Chemical, DuPont, IBM, Kimberly-Clark, Phillips 66, Placon, Plastics Ingenuity and Shell Development. Professor Giacomin also serves as an expert witness in polymer and plastics patent litigation and product liability, and also as a consulting engineer to the polymer and plastics industries.

Professor Giacomin is registered as a Professional Engineer in Wisconsin. He has also been registered in Texas and Quebec. He now serves as faculty advisor to the student chapter of the Society of Plastics Engineers at the University of Wisconsin.

Giacomin now serves as Associate Editor for Business of the Journal of Rheology, the archival journal of The Society of Rheology. In 1999, the RRC hosted the Annual Meeting of The Society of Rheology when Professor Giacomin chaired the Local Arrangements Committee. In 2009, Giacomin will again chair this committee, as the RRC will welcome The Society of Rheology back for another Annual Meeting.

Professor Giacomin chairs the Executive Committee of the Rheology Research Center.

Languages

English
French
Mandarin Chinese (Beginner)

Files and Links of Interest

Copyright 2008 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Date last modified: 04-Mar-2008
Content by: giacomin@wisc.edu
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