Abstract
Blend films of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) and high density polyethylene(HDPE) were prepared by gelation/crystallization from p-xylene solution and they were drawn at various draw ratios in order to investigate thermal and mechanical properties of drawn samples. High draw ratio above 100 could be obtained from drawing the blend films of 70/30 and 50/50 weight percent of UHMW PE/HDPE as well as UHMW PE gel film. Melting temperatures of drawn samples were initially decreased with the increase of draw ratio but above a certain draw ratio, were increased. For the samples having the same draw ratio, melting temperatures were decreased with the increase of weight percent of HDPE. Tensile modulus and tenacity of drawn samples were dependent on the blend composition. Modulus and tenacity were decreased with the increase of weight percent of HDPE. Modulus of samples was almost linearly increased with the increase of draw ratio for all the blend compositions. Tenacity was increased with the increase of draw ratio but the rate of increase was lessened for the high draw ratios.