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Processing properties of high‐ and low‐density polyethylenes and their blends
Author(s) -
Maxwell Bryce,
Dormier E. J.,
Smith F. P.,
Tong P. P.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760220503
Subject(s) - materials science , polyethylene , extrusion , linear low density polyethylene , composite material , shear (geology) , polymer , polymer blend , low density polyethylene , copolymer
Blends of two characterized linear polyethylenes with a branched polyethylene have been prepared by melt extrusion. It has been found that the linear polyethylenes can be shear modified in a reversible manner similar to branched polymers and that this shear modification and its reversal by re‐heating does not change the molecular weight distribution, thereby indicating that the shear modification is a physical rather than chemical change in structure. Because both the high‐ and low‐density polyethylene components of the blends are capable of undergoing reversible shear modification, it is possible to produce blends with either greater or less melt elasticity than the individual components by adjusting the conditions of blending. This demonstrates that the correlation of the properties of blends with the properties of their components should not be attempted without consideration of the effect of the blending process on the properties of the individual components.