High‐temperature SEC coupled with MALLS detector for evaluating the end‐use performance of LDPE

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Abstract
Low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) is the most widely used plastic material in the film‐packaging industry. To improve its tensile strength and elongation, it is blended with linear LDPE. Three commercial samples of LDPE, which were found to give different performances in the sealing strength of films prepared from their blends, have been evaluated for their molecular weight (MW), molecular weight distribution (MWD), and long‐chain branching by high‐temperature size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and SEC coupled with a multiangle laser light‐scattering (MALLS) detector. It has been shown that the differences in MW and MWD that remain unnoticed by conventional SEC are detected by SEC/MALLS. Wide MWD and a low weight‐average MW of the resin has been found to favor film‐sealing strength. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.