Hydrostatic extrusion of linear polyethylene: Effects of extrusion temperature and polymer grade

Abstract

AbstractThe hydrostatic extrusion behavior of linear polyethylene has been examined for two homopolymers of very different molecular weight characteristics and for a copolymer. Good unflawed extrudates could be obtained in all cases, and the extrusion behavior at a fixed temperature correlated well with the melt flow index. Although the maximum values of axial Young's modulus obtainable from the higher molecular weight homopolymer and the copolymer were lower than those possible for the lower molecular weight homopolymer, such materials do show improvements in creep behavior which could be advantageous. The effect of temperature on the extrusion behavior is discussed; the results suggest that for each grade of polymer there is an optimum temperature for effective extrusion, i.e., extrusion which gives optimum modulus enhancement. Finally, the melting behavior and the temperature dependence of the axial Young's moduli of the extrudates are considered in terms of our present knowledge of the structure of these high modulus materials.