Shear modification of polythene

Abstract

Abstract The changes occurring when polythene melts are subjected to shear, have been investigated using a rotating bob fitted into a ram extruder. In addition to chain scission, low density polythene exhibits reversible changes in mechanical and viscoelastic properties. The magnitude of the changes is controlled by total shear strain, and is related to molecular weight and long chain branching. The mechanism appears to be one of reversible disentanglement operating mainly on the large highly branched molecules. The work is relevant to various extrusion processes and to other long‐branched polymers.