Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.80, No.2, 214-222, 2001
Structure development in oriented polyethylene films and microporous membranes as monitored by sound propagation
Microporous membranes of high-density polyethylene were prepared by melt-extrusion followed by annealing and uniaxial extension. Crystallization at a high melt flow rate and subsequent annealing of the spun films with fixed ends led to the formation of oriented hard-elastic materials with a high modulus of elasticity and a considerable work recovery. Uniaxial stretching of such systems along the orientation direction induced the formation of microscopic pores due to the specific structure of the hard-elastic material. At some critical values of the processing parameters, throughflow channels were formed, converting the film into a microporous membrane permeable to liquids and vapors. Sound propagation, tensile measurements, and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the structure and properties of the samples at individual stages of the process as a function of the processing parameters. In particular, it was shown that polar diagrams of the sound propagation velocity reflect sensitively the structural changes in the process of porous structure formation.
Keywords:high-density polyethylene;polymer morphology;hard-elastic behavior;microporous membranes;sound propagation;X-ray diffraction