Stereocomplex formation of high-molecular-weight polylactide: A low temperature approach

The synthesis of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene films and the production of high strength/high modulus tapes and filaments drawn directly from the virgin polymer are described. The study particularly focuses on the effect of the polymerization temperature on the deformation behaviour of the virgin UHMW polyethylene films. These results are discussed within the framework of the entanglement concepts for deformation of weakly bonded macromolecules. The developrnent of the room temperature Young's modulus and the tensile strength with draw ratio is presented and compared with modulus and tenacity/draw ratio relations observed for melt and solution crystallized polyethylene.

Drawing of virgin ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene: an alternative route to high strength/high modulus materials. Part 2: Influence of polymerization temperature.

High strength/high modulus polyethylene: synthesis and processing of ultra-high molecular weight virgin powders

High modulus polyethylene fibres: preparation, properties and modification by crosslinking

Polyethylene (PE) fibers were prepared by ethylene extrusion polymerization with an MCM-41-supported titanocene catalyst. The morphological and mechanical properties of these nascent PE fibers were investigated. Three levels of fibrous morphologies were identified in the fiber samples through an extensive scanning electron microscopy study. Extended-chain PE nanofibrils with diameters of about 60 nm were the major morphological units present in the fiber structure. The nanofibrils were parallel-packed into individual microfibers with diameters of about 1–30 μm. The microfibers were further aggregated irregularly into fiber aggregates and bundles. In comparison with commercial PE fibers and data reported in the literature, the individual microfibers produced in situ via ethylene extrusion polymerization without posttreatment exhibited a high tensile strength (0.3–1.0 GPa), a low tensile modulus (3.0–7.0 GPa), and a high elongation at break (8.5–20%) at 35 °C. The defects in the alignment of the nanofibrils were believed to be the major reason for the low modulus values. It was also found that a slight tensile drawing could increase the microfiber strength and modulus. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2433–2443, 2003

Morphological and mechanical properties of nascent polyethylene fibers produced via ethylene extrusion polymerization with a metallocene catalyst supported on MCM-41 particles

R.H. Marchessault

Papers

Polymerization on glass-supported vanadium trichloride: Morphology of nascent polyethylene

Radiation effects in polyvinyl acetate