Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tensile properties

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) blends are possible by direct compounding, and use of UHMWPE could improve the impact strength or tensile strain of HDPE. The effect of the UHMWPE content on the mechanical properties of the HDPE/UHMWPE blends is improved by compounding due to homogenisation of the mixture [35-39]. 

Figures VII.3 and VII.4 show the experimental values of the Young s modulus and the tensile strength, respectively, for thick films of undoped trans-polyacetylene as a function of draw ratio (all samples were derived from the same polymerization batch). Although there is some scatter in the data, the modulus and tenacity increase approximately linearly with the draw ratio, as is commonly observed for most polymers drawn to moderate draw ratios. The modulus and tensile strength of trans-polyacetylene films stretched up to 15 times are 50 GPa and 0.9 GPa, respectively. These values are essentially equivalent to those observed for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene [83] drawn to the same draw ratio. Recently, Akagi et al.[78] reported remarkable mechanical properties for drawn polyacetylene films prepared by non-solvent polymerization (100 GPa and 0.9 GPa for the modulus and tensile strength, respectively). The origin of difference in the modulus (in the two studies) is unknown.

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