Interfacial tension measurements and evidence of order in high-density polyethylene melts

Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used product commercially. However, our knowledge is incomplete about the properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at temperatures above its melting point, where solid crystals disappear. Recently, there has been increasing evidence from rheological, differential scanning calorimetry, and NMR studies that suggests the presence of microstructural order in the bulk of PE melts. In this study, the interfacial tension of HDPE melts in contact with silicone oil was measured with a spinning drop tensiometer in the same temperature range in which phase transitions have been observed in the bulk HDPE. Anomalous temperature dependence of interfacial tension was found between 200 and 230degreesC. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.