Biaxial stretching

Biaxial orientation effects are of importance in the manufacture of films and sheet. Biaxially stretched poly(ethylene terephthalate) (e.g. Melinex),... 

Biaxially stretched film has proved of value as a packaging material. Specific uses include blister packaging, snap-on lids, overwrapping, envelope windows and de luxe paekaging. 

Figure 16.16. Plax process for manufacture of biaxially stretched polystyrene film...

This polymer has a slightly stiffer chain and hence slightly higher melting point and heat distortion temperatures than poly(ethylene terephthalate). Films are available (Kodel-Kodak) which have been biaxially stretched about 200% from polymer with molecular weights of about 25 000. They are similar electrically to poly(ethylene terephthalate), are weaker mechanically but have superior resistance to water and in weathering stability. Some properties are given in Table 25.6. 

Fig. S3. High quality, biaxially stretched PVDF ferroelectric film can be electrically poled to a remanent polarization of over 9 fxCcm with the Bauer cyclic poling technique. The polarization versus electric field of a typical sample is shown.

Similarly, oriented crystallisation can be induced by stretching sheets or films of polymers in two directions simultaneously. The resulting materials have biaxially oriented polymer crystals. Typical examples of such materials are biaxially stretched poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(vinylidene chloride), and poly (propylene). Since the oriented crystals do not interfere with light waves, such films combine good strength with high clarity, which makes them attractive in a number of applications. 

Kim, J. C Cakmak, M. and Zhou, X Effect of composition on crystalline orientation and optical properties of biaxially stretched PEN/PEI films, in Proceedings of the 55th SPE ANTEC 97 Conference, May 5-8, 1997, Toronto, ON, Canada, Society of Plastics Engineers, Brookfield, CT, 1997, Vol. 2, pp. 1588-1592. 

Polyolefin foams are easier to model than polyurethane (PU) foams, since the polymer mechanical properties does not change with foam density. An increase in water content decreases the density of PU foams, but increases the hard block content of the PU, hence increasing its Young s modulus. However, the microstructure of semi-crystalline PE and PP in foams is not spherulitic, as in bulk mouldings. Rodriguez-Perez and co-workers (20) showed that the cell faces in PE foams contain oriented crystals. Consequently, their properties are anisotropic. Mechanical data for PE or PP injection mouldings should not be used for modelling foam properties. Ideally the mechanical properties of the PE/PP in the cell faces should be measured. However, as such data is not available, it is possible to use data for blown PE film, since this is also biaxially stretched, and the texture of the crystalline orientation is known to be similar to that in foam faces. 

The density of chemicaUy-blown LDPE foam was altered by varying the amount of blowing agent, degree of crosslinking of the polymer, and the foam expansion temperature. A theory was proposed for the equilibrium density, based on the gas pressures in a Kelvin foam structure, and a rubber-elastic analysis of the biaxial stretching of the cell faces. 20 refs. 

Each film was cut into a 5-cm width strip and stretched by 10% at 230°C to 280°C using an automatic biaxial stretching device. 

Re and Rty of films at 589 nm were measured using film stretch by 10% at 230-280°C using an automatic biaxial stretching machine. Film thickness was assayed at any three points by means of a digital micrometer and an average value reported. Testing results are provided in Table 2. 

Heat-shrinkable sheets (thickness 0.040 to 0.120 inch, or 1 to 3 mm) and films (thickness 0.001 to 0.020 inch or 0. 025 to 0.5 mm) are fabricated from many of the same materials as shrinkable tubing.91 They are produced by extrusion as a tube, sheet or blown film. Irradiation is done by the equipment shown in Figure 8.10. Orientation (stretching) after irradiation can be done by several methods, namely by differentially heated and driven rolls (in the machine direction) or by a tenter frame (see Figure 8.11) in the transverse direction. If desired, biaxial stretching can be done. 

---