| Abstract: | The effect of pan-milling on the rheological properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) was studied. Aninnovative milling apparatus, viz. an inlaid pan-mill, was used. Melt indexer, capillary rheometer, Haake Rheocord 90 single-screw extruder and Brabender rheometer were used to evaluate the rheologieal properties of HDPE. HDPE with higher initialmolecular weight and larger particle size was easier to degrade under pan-milling stress, as indicated by the melt index.Pressure oscillation in capillary flow occurred at significantly higher shear stress and shear rate for milled HDPE than forunmilled HDPE. The apparent shear viscosity of HDPE decreased with increasing times of milling. After milling, the flowactivation energy decreased and thus the sensitivity of viscosity to temperature was reduced. Die pressure and torque duringsingle screw extrusion were reduced significantly after milling. Plasticizing time as measured in a Brabander mixer decreasedmarkedly with increasing milling times. |
