Preparation and characterization of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and polyisoprene solvent-cast blend films

Abstract

This study covers the preparation of noncrosslinked and crosslinked solvent-cast blend films of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polyisoprene rubber (PIR) and their mechanical, thermal, IR spectroscopic, and morphological characterizations. Solvent-cast films of polymer blends with 0, 10, 20, 35, 50, and 65% PIR composition were prepared by vigorous stirring from a hot decalin solution. The films were crosslinked chemically by using acetophenone as a crosslinking agent under UV radiation. The mechanical properties, measured as ultimate properties and tensile modulus, were found to decrease with PIR content but crosslinking was found to enhance the ultimate strength and tensile modulus. DSC results revealed that melting point of UHMWPE remains almost constant in blends. However, upon crosslinking, the melting point of UHMWPE is depressed almost 5ЊC. We observed a similar trend in the enthalpy change of the melting of UHMWPE and the variation of percent crystallinity in UHMWPE. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies on the fractured surfaces of the blends showed that the fibrillar texture is present in both crosslinked and noncrosslinked blends. The crosslinking appeared to be through oxygen linkages, which are preferentially conjugated to double bonds, in addition to the possible carboncarbon crosslinks.

Effect of electron beam irradiation on the properties of ethylene‐(vinyl acetate) copolymer/natural rubber/organoclay nanocomposites

“…8. Fibril-like structures (as indicated by white arrows) are formed in the irradiated nanocomposites [42]. The stretched and elongated matrix shows a higher resistance towards failure.…”

The preparation of novel nano-structured polymer blends of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with polymethacrylates using supercritical carbon dioxide

“…Despite these factors, a limited number of blends of UHMWPE with other polymers have been reported in the literature. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] However, all these blends required high processing temperatures, and a range of other energy intensive processes (e.g. high shear force extrusion) in order to achieve acceptable mixing of the polymer phases.…”

Study of a compatibilized ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene and polyurethane blend

“…While blending UHMWPE and other polymers, one solution to this problem is to use the melt casting method. This method can increase possible physical crosslinking, which is entanglement as a result of mixing in the solution blending 1, 2. Besides, S.H.…”