| Abstract: | The optical properties of conventional, free-radical polymerized low density polyethylene (LDPE) blown films are due essentially to surface irregularities that develop during fabrication. Past studies have shown that the extent to which these irregularities occur (and therefore optical properties) correlates well with the melt elasticity of the resin. Specifically, it has been shown that resins with higher melt elasticity result in films with poorer optical properties. However, it was recently reported that the optical properties of film blown from a Sci of three generically similar LDPE resins were found to correlate with the crystallization kinetics of the resins. Specifically, it was reported that the resins that exhibited faster crystallization rates produced films with better optical properties. This present work shows, however, that this apparent correlation is only coincidental. It has been shown that resins exhibiting faster crystallization rates do not necessarily result in films with better optical properties. On the other hand, it has been shown that resins with higher melt elasticity consistently result in films with poorer optical properties. |
