Time resolved simultaneous small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering during polyethylene deformation .2. Cold drawing of linear polyethylene

The cold drawing behaviour of a range of unoriented linear polyethylenes was investigated using the technique of simultaneous small-and wide-angle X-ray scattering during deformation. The influences of molecular weight and thermal history were studied. The role of both variables was found to be highly important since by altering the percentage crystallinity they influenced the relative amounts of inter-and intra-lamellar deformation. The micromechanical deformation processes governing the different regions of the load-extension curve were found to be the same as for cold-drawn ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, demonstrating the fundamental similarity between all types of unoriented polyethylene PE. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.