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Rheological and mechanical behavior of the UHMWPE/MDPE mixtures
Author(s) -
Dumoun M. M.,
Utracki L. A.,
Lara J.
Publication year - 1984
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.760240209
Subject(s) - rheology , materials science , composite material , polyethylene , extensional definition , dispersion (optics) , optical microscope , ultra high molecular weight polyethylene , scanning electron microscope , optics , paleontology , tectonics , physics , biology
An attempt was made to melt incorporate ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, UHMWPE, into medium density polyethylene, MDPE. The behavior of the mixtures, containing up to 6 wt percent of UHMWPE, was examined using mechanical and rheological testing. The mechanical test results were found to contain large experimental errors, which makes interpretation very difficult. On the other hand, melt rheology studies, using dynamic and extensional deformations, gave direct insight into the extent and effect of blending. Degradation during the processing was evaluated by size exclusion chromatography. The degree of dispersion of the UHMWPE was examined under the optical microscope.