On the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of low-density polyethylene/ethylene-α-octene copolymer blends

Abstract

Blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) were obtained. The effect of EOC content and absorbed radiation dose on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of LDPE/EOC blends are investigated. Particular attention is given to a tensile stress-strain analysis and the “form-memory” effect of the blends. With growing LDPE content, the elastic modulus, the yield stress, and the thermorelaxation and residual stresses of the blends increase, but the ultimate elongation at break decreases, which is caused by the higher crystallinity of polyethylene. As a result of radiation-induced cross-linking, the elastic modulus, the yield stress (at a 1% strain), the ultimate yield strength, and the thermorelaxation and residual stresses increase, while the ultimate elongation at break and the melt flow-behavior index decrease, which is confirmed by the growing gel fraction in the blend.