THE EFFECT OF THE LENGTH OF THE SHORT CHAIN BRANCH ON THE IMPACT PROPERTIES OF LINEAR LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

The ability to evaluate various mechanical test parameters of polymers using an instrumented impact tester is reviewed. The nature of the short chain branching (SCB) in a series of linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPE) was characterized and related to several impact test parameters for these materials. The impact strength, ductility, and impact fatigue life were observed to increase with increasing branch length. This was attributed, in fact, to an increase in the number of interlamellar tie molecules as the SCB length increased. With an increase in the SCB length the SCB distribution became broader; the number of chains rich in short chain branches increased. This component acts somewhat like the rubber particles in a rubber-toughened blend which gives rise to the concept of a "one copolymer blend."