Study on the Dynamic Rheological Behavior of Four Different Bimodal Polyethylenes

Abstract

The dynamic rheological properties of four bimodal polyethylene samples with different molecular parameters were studied. The Cole-Cole plots, Han curves, Van Gurp’ plots, and master curves of elastic modulus, tan delta, and complex viscosity suggested that these four samples showed different micro-phase compatibility and the chain correlations affected strongly the chain dimensions of the polymer blends. A reduction of chain dimension would lead to a decrease of the possibility for a molecule in the melt to form a tie molecule and thus could affect the application performance of bimodal polyethylenes.

Keywords:

• bimodal polyethylene
• dynamic rheological properties

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50903049, 50903053), the Applied Basic Research Programs of Science and Technology Commission Foundation of Sichuan Province (2009JY0031), and the Provincial Science and Technology Pillar Program of Sichuan (2010GZ0176, China) for financial support. The authors also thank the Analytical and Testing Center of Sichuan University for providing GPC and dynamic rheology measurements.