ISSN:
1435-1528
Keywords:
Internalstress
;
physicalageing
;
amorphous phase
;
stressrelaxation
;
polyethylene
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The stress relaxation behavior of high density polyethylene (HDPE) can be affected by ageing processes; e.g., with increasing storage time at a low temperature following a quench from a high temperature (close to the melting point) the relaxation curves change shape. More specifically, the stress level approached after very long loading times in a stress relaxation experiment increases with the ageing time. Here this stress level is denoted “the internal stress”σ i. Struik has pointed out that physical ageing may also occur in semicrystalline polymers like HDPE. The physical ageing should then be associated with that part of the amorphous phase which is closest to the surfaces of the crystallites. This part of the amorphous phase of HDPE can be assumed to have a restricted mobility at room temperature and may have a partially “glassy” character. In this paper a model for explaining the increase inσ i for HDPE with increasing ageing time is proposed and discussed. It is based on the separation of the amorphous phase into two parts as suggested by Struik. The glassy part of the amorphous phase ages in a way similar to that of an entirely amorphous polymer quenched to a temperature below its glass transition, while the more rubbery phase is assumed not to undergo any physical ageing.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01356975
Permalink
