Tensile behaviour of homogeneous ethylene copolymers

The tensile behaviour of homogeneous ethylene–butene copolymer and heterogeneous ethylene–butene copolymer has been compared in uniaxial tension. The homogeneous copolymer exhibits a more marked double yield behaviour. Composition distribution and heat treatment greatly influence the double yield behaviour of ethylene copolymer. A more homogeneous composition distribution has the same effect as rising draw temperature and decreasing draw rate on the double yield behaviour of ethylene copolymers. It is found that the occurrence of the double yield phenomenon is distinguished by the difference between two yield strains. Metallocene‐based ethylene copolymer shows better tensile break properties than conventional ethylene copolymer. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry