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The effect of γ‐irradiation on thermal strain of high strength polyethylene fiber at low temperature
Author(s) -
Yamanaka Atsuhiko,
Izumi Yoshinobu,
Kitagawa Tooru,
Terada Takaya,
Hirahata Hiroshi,
Ema Kimiko,
Fujishiro Hiroyuki,
Nishijima Shigehiro
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.23550
Subject(s) - thermal expansion , polyethylene , materials science , chain scission , atmospheric temperature range , composite material , fiber , thermal treatment , negative thermal expansion , irradiation , polymer , thermodynamics , physics , nuclear physics
To understand the contribution to negative thermal expansion by the length of the molecular chains in high‐strength ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMW‐PE) fiber, the thermal expansion coefficient in the range of low temperature was investigated for high‐strength UHMW‐PE fiber (Toyobo, Dyneema®; hereinafter abbreviated to DF), irradiated by γ‐rays (γ‐rays treatment) that induce the molecular scission. The molecular weight of DF decreased by γ‐ray treatment. X‐ray diffraction behavior did not change by γ‐ray treatment. The melting behavior observed by DSC showed the main chain scission of DF by γ‐ray treatment. The DFs, with and without γ‐ray treatment, expand by cooling down (negative thermal expansion). The change of negative thermal expansion of DF by γ‐ray treatment was small. It is suggested that negative thermal expansion does not change by only the molecular chain scission. These results suggested that the effect of negative thermal expansion of DF in the temperature range from 213 to 303 K by the molecular chain scissions is small and that the length of extended molecular chains contributes to a negative thermal expansion a little. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 204–209, 2006