Shear induced vortices in high molecular weight polyethylene oxide melt

Summary The vortices in laminar flow of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide melt under shear were studied using small angle light scattering technique and applying the statistical and model aproaches. It was found that vortices are aggregates of large number of molecules with the core of fluctuating density and molecular orientation of surroundings due to this rotation. Perpendicular dimensions of the more dense core is 4.3 m and for oriented surroundings 7,5 m.Longitudinal dimensions are 8 m and 20–35 (depending on shear rate) for the dense and oriented parts, respectively.     

Degradation of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene in vivo

Mechanical and thermal oxidation of UHMWPE used in the preparation of prosthetic implants is studied and the mechanisms of degradation are reported. Oxidation of new and retrieved prosthetic implants are studied by IR microscopy and clear evidence of oxidation in vivo is shown.     

The forming properties of high molecular weight polyethylene

The formabilities of cold-rolled high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE) sheets have been studied by measuring their plastic anisotropy ratio (R value), strain-hardening exponent (n value), strain distribution, and the forming limit diagram (FLD). The deep drawability of the polymer is improved by rolling. After 40% or more reduction in thickness by cold rolling, the HMWPE sheet could be deep-drawn into a cylindrical cup. The results of R value measurement indicate that the R value is responsible for improved drawability. Cold rolling also increases the n value but decreases the strain gradient. Stretch forming tests have also been carried out, and the results show that cold working could also improve the stretchability of this polymer. The results of the FLD are in agreement with the other properties studied. The mechanical properties, environmental stress cracking resistance, and shape, size, and property stability of the deep-drawn HMWPE cups have also been investigated.     

超高分子量聚乙烯溶解均匀性研究

超高分子量聚乙烯纤维生产工艺中,超高分子量聚乙烯溶解设备普遍使用双螺杆挤出机。文章研究了如何使用双螺杆挤出机,具体涉及到螺纹元件的组合、双螺杆挤出机的转速以及各区温度控制等关键技术,制备溶解均匀的超高分子量聚乙烯溶液,以达到纺丝要求。     

Die drawing technology of high molecular weight polyethylene

A comprehensive investigation of the die drawing technology of a high molecular weight polythylene (HMWPE) rod has been carried out. The effect of draw temperature, draw speed, nominal draw ratio, and exit diameter of the dies has been studied. The oriented HMWPE products were characterized mainly by the determination of the three-point bend modulus and the tensile strength. The tensile strength and the modulus of the drawn HMWPE rod could reach 700 MPa and 18 GPa, respectively. In addition, it was found that forced cooling at the die exit was essential when drawing billets with large section areas. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

凝胶纺丝法制备超高分子量聚乙烯/高分子量聚乙烯纤维延伸性能的研究

用凝胶纺丝法制备了超高分子量聚乙烯(UHMWPE)/高分子量聚乙烯(HDPE)纤维,探讨了添加不同种类高分子量聚乙烯对凝胶初生纤维在后续延伸过程中延伸性能的影响。结果表明在固定制备条件时,当超高分子量聚乙烯(UHMWPE)/高分子量聚乙烯(HDPE)的质量比在最适当质量比时,高分子量聚乙烯的分子量为1.5～2.0×104时,所制备的凝胶初生纤维的可延伸比达最大值。     

浅谈超高分子量聚乙烯纤维的表面处理

超高分子量聚乙烯（UHMWPE）纤维是一种性能优异的高性能纤维,但由于其表面自身特点,限制了它的应用,所以通常对其表面进行处理,以提高与树脂的界面结合力。作者介绍了几种用于UHMWPE纤维表面处理的方法,如等离子处理法。     

J Integral measurements of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

Fracture of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) contributes to damage modes occurring on the articulating surfaces of total joint replacement components. To minimize damage through the optimization of component design requires an understanding of the fracture behavior of UHMWPE. A fracture/mechanics approach was taken in which J integral tests were performed on three-point bend specimens of two thicknesses. J_IC was determined to be 99.5 kJ/m² and was independent of specimen thickness. The fracture surfaces for both specimen thicknesses showed extensive orientation and failure through multiple layers of material, suggesting that UHMWPE experiences plane stress conditions at the crack tip, regardless of thickness.     

高分子量HDPE薄膜级树脂的开发

综述了国内外高分子量高密度聚乙烯薄膜级树脂的性能、生产工艺、代表牌号、市场、应用领域和发展趋势,重点介绍了几种代表性的生产工艺,并根据我国该薄膜级树脂生产和消费现状,提出了今后发展的建议。     

Change of morphology in high molecular weight polyethylene during die drawing

Deformed high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE) rod, produced by die drawing at 115°C, was cleaved longitudinally at liquid nitrogen temperature and the cleaved surface was etched using a permanganic etching technique. A series of etched surfaces of HMWPE sections with different draw ratios (from 1 to 13) were analyzed employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The change of crystalline structure in HMWPE during die drawing was observed. In undrawn HMWPE. the spherulites were made up of sheaflike lamellae and scattered within the amorphous phase. During die drawing in the first instance, the microscopically inhomogeneous deformation occurred and the spherulites aligned along the drawing direction. At a draw ratio of about 7, local melting occurred, the spherulites disintegrated, and the sheaflike lamellae oriented, followed by straininduced recrystallization and the growth of the lamellae. Finally, at a draw ratio of about 12, the plastic deformation of the lamellae occurred and microfibrils were formed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Environmental stress cracking of low molecular weight high density polyethylene

Stress intensity factor (K) — crack speed ($\text{a}\text{?}$) relationships have been obtained for environmental stress cracking (ESC) of specimens of a high density polyethylene having different thermal treatments. Also, scanning electron microscope examination of ESC fracture surfaces has been carried out and correlation between K and the fracture surface appearance has been established. It appears that at low values of K the failure takes place by interlamellar crack propagation; as K increases the mechanism undergoes a transition to void formation and growth, with voids beginning to appear within the spherulites. At high K the failure is entirely by void formation and growth.     

超高分子量聚乙烯成型加工及改性

介绍了近些年超高分子量聚乙烯（UHMWPE）的成型加工方法,由于UHMWPE熔体粘度极高,成型加工困难,通常采用模压成型,限制了其应用领域;通过综述中低分子量聚乙烯,聚丙烯,液晶聚合物及无机填料等改性UHMWPE所取得的成绩,指出解开UHMWPE的链缠结是改性最核心的问题。     

Cold compaction molding and sintering of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

Cold Compaction Molding and Sintering of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been examined as a function of particle size, sintering time and temperature, and cooling rate. Properties nearly equivalent to those obtained by compression molding can be obtained from samples with a fibrous particle morphology, sintered just above the melting point, with further improvement possible by control of particle size and addition of fine particles of normal molecular weight linear polyethylene. UHMWPE with a nodular particle morphology sintered poorly.     

Uniaxial tensile creep behaviour of ultra high molecular weight linear polyethylene

The present paper examines the room temperature constant-load uniaxial tensile creep response of two ultra high molecular weight linear polyethylene (UHMW LPE) materials and compares it with that of a normal molecular weight linear polyethylene (NMW LPE). It was found that at all stress levels examined, the magnitude of creep deformation is significantly higher in UHMW LPE than in NMW LPE. Possible reasons for this behaviour are explored. Potential techniques for improving the tensile creep behaviour (i.e. decreasing the creep deformation) of LPE are discussed.     

Melt characterization of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene using squeeze flow

A method for determining the melt viscosity and molecular weight of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is described. The method, based on squeeze flow, was used to characterize seventeen UHM W-PE samples varying in molecular weight from 0.6 × 10⁶ to 5.1 × 10⁶ and in viscosity from 2.9 × 10⁶ to 3.4 × 10⁹ poise. A correlation between melt viscosity and molecular weight was demonstrated, but the reliability of a molecular weight determination decreased somewhat as molecular weight increased. As a predictor of melt processability, the method provides the speed and simplicity heretofore lacking in UHMW-PE characterization by solution viscosity while retaining high reproducibility.     

Toughening high performance ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene using multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report experimental observations on the drastically enhanced toughness in the high-strength and high-modulus ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films due to the addition of 1 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A combination of tensile and Raman spectroscopic measurements showed that the presence of MWCNTs in the composites can lead to a ∼150% increase in strain energy density in comparison with the pure UHMWPE film at similar draw ratios. This is accompanied with an increase of ∼140% in ductility and up to 25% in tensile strength. We attribute the above observations to the chain mobility enhancement in UHMWPE induced by the MWCNTs.     

Mechanism of secondary crystallisation in irradiated and aged ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has been irradiated in air and aged for 168 months. On melting and recrystallisation in the differential scanning calorimeter a secondary crystallisation event is observed around 80 °C. This event has been studied using isothermal crystallisation and the results analysed using the Avrami equation and the Lauritzen-Hoffman approach. This suggests that during this event growth occurs through regime II kinetics whereby large numbers of surface nuclei form on the substrate, with multiple nucleations acts commencing before the previous ones have finished. It is postulated that this secondary crystallisation event involves the development of a diffuse semi-ordered interface between the well-developed lamellae and the amorphous phase.