Rheological and mechanical properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/high density polyethylene/polyethylene glycol blends

Abstract

Abstract Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) possesses many excellent properties, but poor processability. There are many ways to improve the processability of UHMWPE, but most of which will compromise its other outstanding properties. The effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) on the rheological and mechanical properties of UHMWPE were investigated in this paper, and the UHMWPE blends were prepared by twin screw extruder. The addition of PEG can remarkably improve the processability of UHMWPE, so the UHMWPE/PEG (100/4) blends can be steadily extruded from the capillary. In addition, the apparent shear viscosity, storage modulus, loss modulus and the complex viscosity decrease with the increasing amount of PEG. However, the mechanical properties of UHMWPE/PEG blends decrease as the PEG content increase. The incorporation of HDPE can further improve the processability of the UHMWPE/PEG blends and reduce its apparent shear viscosity, storage modulus, loss modulus and complex viscosity. Mechanical properties test reveals that the best ratio of UHMWPE/HDPE is 60/40. Compared with UHMWPE/PEG (100/4), the tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of UHMWPE/HDPE/PEG (60/40/4) increase by 13.8%, 25.7%, and 32.5%, respectively.