Drawing of single‐crystal mats of linear polyethylene

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Abstract
Drawing of single‐crystal mats of linear polyethylene has been investigated. Drawing is possible at temperatures higher than about 90°C. The drawing is accompanied by distinct necking, with a large decrease in the thickness of the mat and a very high maximum draw ratio, sometimes over 30. The maximum draw ratio is approximately proportional to the thickness of the lamellae. This behavior strongly suggests the unfolding of chains during drawing. A change of orientation of crystal axes occurs before necking without change of lamellar orientation. The a axis orients in the drawing direction; the b axis orients perpendicular to the direction of drawing; and the chain axis tilts away from the thickness direction of the mat. The structure of films drawn from mats is characterized by a distinct double orientation of crystals. This biaxial orientation in the drawn films has a high degree of correlation with the orientation of crystal axes observed before necking, and suggests that necking takes place in such a way that the chain tilts gradually about the b axis and ultimately unfolds. The postulate of formation of transitory two‐dimensional crystals in necking seems useful in explaining the double orientation in the drawn film. The orientation behavior of crystal axes observed before necking is not always similar to that observed in the deformation of a single crystal. The difference is thought to be due to the effect of forces induced by drawing that act in the direction normal to the lamellae within a mat.