Thermal, mechanical, and rheological behavior of blends of ultrahigh and normal‐molecular‐weight linear polyethylenes

Physical Blends of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight linear polyethylene (UHMW LPE) and normal‐molecular‐weight linear polyethylene (NMW LPE) have been evaluated in terms of melt flow rate, tensile stress‐strain behavior, heat of fusion, melting temperature, and crystallinity. The behavior of the blends is intermediate between that of the parent polymers; no synergistic effects are observed. The addition of small quantities of NMW LPE does not improve the flow behavior of UHMW LPE sufficiently to render it amenable to conventional melt processing.