FLOW-INDUCED CRYSTALLIZATION OF LINEAR POLYETHYLENE MELTS ABOVE THE NORMAL MELTING POINT.

This paper reports results of an experimental investigation in which has been shown that continuous flow of melts in the Biconical Rheometer can produce extended chain crystals continuously by melt orientation alone. The authors were able to obtain the kinetics of flow-induced crystallization in linear PE melts above their normal melting point because of the favorable experimental condition, i. e. , uniform shear rate flow. It is hoped that this study will be helpful in the development of novel processing methods for producing stronger polymer articles without the incorporation of reinforcing components. Mathematical equations are presented which have been derived to describe the crystallization of PE above its melt temperature by using flow-induced crystallization. Extensive measuring results modified by computation are presented in curves.