CHEMICAL REACTIONS DURING THE PROCESSING OF STABILIZED PE; STRUCTURE/PROPERTY CORRELATIONS

Abstract

Interesting correlations were observed in an optimization project directed towards the development of a recipe for blown film production. Analysis of the data and additional experiments indicated that some reactions take place during the processing of stabilized PE which also change the structure of the polymer. Modification of the rheological properties of the polymer and the mechanical characteristics of blown films can be related to these chemical processes. A close correlation was found among basically all rheological and mechanical properties. A tentative explanation was given which relates chemistry to the structure of the polymer and the properties of the product. According to the hypothesis long chain branches are formed during processing which decrease MFI, change the orientation of the film in the perpendicular direction and result in a considerable decrease in the strength of the blown films.