Characterization of the crystalline and amorphous orientation of a uniaxially deformed low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film has been accomplished by combining pole figure X-ray diffraction and birefringence measurements. Characterization of the crystalline regions of the extruded film reveals the existence of a row-nucleated morphology with the a axis preferentially oriented in the plane containing the machine (MD) and transverse (TD) directions and the b axis strongly oriented along the film normal. This morphology is embedded in an amorphous matrix, biaxially oriented in nature. Low uniaxial extension along the MD produces two major orientational states in the crystalline regions which seem independent of the corresponding amorphous orientation. The pole figure analysis clearly shows that the c axis weakly orients towards the MD. Upon further uniaxial extension, it begins to tilt progressively away from the stretching direction inducing a complementary orientational behaviour between the c and b crystallographic axes on account of the stationary a-axis orientation perpendicular to the stretching direction. At higher draw ratios, the c axis gradually realigns itself with the stretching direction and uniaxial orientational states in all regions of the microstructure are obtained, indicating the existence of a fibrillar-type morphology. Quantification of the induced orientation was carried out and compared in terms of Hermans, Nomura/Kawai and White/Spruiell orientation functions.
Посилання на статтю:
X-ray and birefringence orientation measurements on uniaxially deformed polyethylene film / Richard J. Pazur, Abdellah Ajji and Robert E. Prud'homme // Polymer. – 1993. – Vol 34. – P. 4004-4014.
