STRUCTURE TRANSFER FROM A POLYMERIC MELT TO THE SOLID-STATE .1. THE INFLUENCE OF CHAIN ENTANGLEMENTS IN LINEAR POLYETHYLENE

Melt-spinning experiments were carried out at high quenching rates. Mechanical properties (elongation at break, natural draw ratio, and elastic recovery) have been measured. Significant variations of these quantities were observed when extrusion conditions were changed. This has been attributed to different states of the entanglements within the melt, which are directly transferred into the solid state. This intercorrelation between melt and solid-state properties has been substantiated in the case of rapidly cooled samples, where a poor crystallization on one side and a simultaneous good conservation of melt history on the other side are provoked.