On the transition from paraffinic to polymeric behavior: Mechanical properties

An attempt has been made to determine what influence chain folds may have on the α and γ mechanical loss peaks in linear polyethylene. In so doing, one long-chain n-paraffin (C₉₄H₁₉₀) and two low molecular weight polyethylene fractions have been examined with mechanical relaxation, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and low-angle x-ray diffraction techniques. The data suggest that chain folds play a prominent role in both the α and γ processes but that other factors such as polydispersity and/or branching are also important.