title: Validity of a macroscopic description in dilute polymeric solutions
abstract: Derivation of macroscopic equations from the simplest dumbbell models is revisited. It is demonstrated that the onset of the macroscopic description is sensitive to the flows. For Peterlin's approximation [Makromol. Chem. 338, 44 (1961)] to Warner's finitely extensible nonlinear elastic spring-force model [Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam. 11, 379 (1972)] (FENE-P), small deviations from the Gaussian solution undergo a slow relaxation before the macroscopic description sets on. Some consequences of these observations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: ETH-Zurich, Department of Materials, Institute of Polymers, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ilg
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Karlin