Solid-state extrusion of chain-extended polyethylene

Billets of chain-extended polyethylene were prepared from Alathon 7050 (M_w 59,000, M_n 19,000) in an Instron capillary rheometer by crystallization at a constant pressure of 460 MPa, at a series of teimperatures from 198 to 221°C corresponding to varying degrees of undercooling. This gives chain-extended morphologies with a range of crystallinites and lamellar thicknesses. The billets were then solid-state extruded at 100°C through a conical die with 20° entrance angle up to an extrusion draw ration 23.4. Thermal behavior was studied with differential scanning calorimetry. The orientation function measured by wide-angle x-ray diffraction showed higher orientation function measured by wide-angle x-ray diffraction showed higher orientation at equivalent draw ratio when the initial billets were crystallized at lower temperatures. Drawing efficiency, defined as the ratio of molecular draw ratio (from shrinkage) to extrusion draw ratio correspondingly increases, reaching a maximum of 0.71 in our solid-state extrusion. These studies show that highly chain-extended polyethylene, i.e., with few chain entanglements, draws poorly. Drawability was improved by increasing chain entanglements by lowering the crystallization temperature. Electron micrographs of fracture surface replicas of extrudates revealed the coexistence of undeformed, tilted, partially drawn lamellae and fibrillar structure consistent with the cahange of morphologies in Peterlin's model of plastic deformation.