Morphology and Deformation of Melt-Spun Polyethylene Fibers

P. Y.F. Fung, S. H. Carr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Studies have been conducted on the melt-spinning and tensile properties of polyethylene fibers. The process whereby a filament of molten polyethylene is converted into a fiber has been noted to occur within an identifiable constriction zone. It has been inferred that this constriction zone results from a mechanical instability caused by different viscous compliances in fiber exterior and in-terior. This difference makes the skin move faster than the core and creates a flow field that produces a stress-crystallized morphology in the final melt-spun fibers. Birefringence studies on transverse thin sections suggest that the chains are tilted with respect to the fiber axis at an angle which varies with radius but is axially symmetric. Elastic strain in these fibers results largely from co-operative bending and bowing of lamellae. Plastic deformation beyond the yield point appears chiefly to be derived from lamellar tilting in combination with the formation of microfibrillar crystallites.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)621-633
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Macromolecular Science, Part B
Volume6
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1972

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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