THE APPLICATION OF GAS BARRIER AND THERMAL-EXPANSION TECHNIQUES TO STUDY STRUCTURAL-CHANGES ON ANNEALING

Changes occur in the structure of drawn polyethylene when it is annealed at temperatures close to that of the drawing process. Measurements have been made of the oxygen barrier properties and of the thermal expansion coefficient in the draw direction on samples over a wide draw ratio range both before and after annealing at various temperatures. The results are augmented by density, creep modulus, and shrinkage observations. All samples show a drop in the barrier properties and an increase in the thermal expansion after annealing.