Influence of High Peroxide Concentration on the Mechanical Properties of Cross-Linked Low Density Polyethylene

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Abstract
In this paper are presented the static and dynamic mechanical investigation of chemically cross-linked low density polyethylene (XLPE) prepared in our laboratory. This polymer has been tested mechanically at different frequencies, amplitudes, and temperatures as a function of cross-link density which is indicated to some extent by the amount of peroxide used in the cross-linking. The main findings can be described as follows: mechanical damping in XLPE at the α-relaxation point as a function of peroxide concentration is different for shear and compression modes of deformation. Moreover, the dynamic investigation at very small amplitudes indicated two relatively rigid structures. One structure at low concentration of peroxide is attributed to excessive crystallinity; the other one at the high peroxide concentration is probably due to the very regular and perfect polyethylene network. These two interesting structures are not detected by dynamical testing with large amplitudes. As far as Young's modulus as a function of peroxide concentration is concerned, we conclude that in this polymer this factor does not depend on the crystallinity but on changes of the so-called hard amorphous phase. These findings are consistent with our previous structural investigation.