Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material Properties
The polymerization of ethylene to Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) in certain reaction conditions allows synthesis of nascent powders with a considerably lower amount of entanglements: the material obtained is of great interest from both academic and industrial viewpoints. From an a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2017-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Polymer Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7431419 |
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| author | Giuseppe Forte Sara Ronca |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Forte Sara Ronca |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Forte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The polymerization of ethylene to Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) in certain reaction conditions allows synthesis of nascent powders with a considerably lower amount of entanglements: the material obtained is of great interest from both academic and industrial viewpoints. From an academic point of view, it is interesting to follow the evolution of the metastable melt state with the progressive entanglements formation. Industrially, it is valuable to have a solvent-free processing route for the production of high modulus, high strength tapes. Since the polymer synthesis is performed in the presence of a solvent, it is interesting to investigate the influence that the reaction medium can have on the catalyst activity, resultant molecular characteristics, and polymer morphology at the macroscopic as wells as microscopic level. In this paper, we present the effect that two typical polymerization solvents, toluene and heptane, and mixtures of them, have on the catalytic performance and on the polymer properties. The observations are that an unexpected increase of catalyst activity, accompanied by a significant improvement in mechanical properties, is found when using a carefully chosen mixture of solvents. A tentative explanation is given on the basis of the presented results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd91dc8af21946388346a74199d21a0e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9422 1687-9430 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Polymer Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd91dc8af21946388346a74199d21a0e2025-02-03T01:10:44ZengWileyInternational Journal of Polymer Science1687-94221687-94302017-01-01201710.1155/2017/74314197431419Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material PropertiesGiuseppe Forte0Sara Ronca1Department of Materials, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UKDepartment of Materials, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UKThe polymerization of ethylene to Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) in certain reaction conditions allows synthesis of nascent powders with a considerably lower amount of entanglements: the material obtained is of great interest from both academic and industrial viewpoints. From an academic point of view, it is interesting to follow the evolution of the metastable melt state with the progressive entanglements formation. Industrially, it is valuable to have a solvent-free processing route for the production of high modulus, high strength tapes. Since the polymer synthesis is performed in the presence of a solvent, it is interesting to investigate the influence that the reaction medium can have on the catalyst activity, resultant molecular characteristics, and polymer morphology at the macroscopic as wells as microscopic level. In this paper, we present the effect that two typical polymerization solvents, toluene and heptane, and mixtures of them, have on the catalytic performance and on the polymer properties. The observations are that an unexpected increase of catalyst activity, accompanied by a significant improvement in mechanical properties, is found when using a carefully chosen mixture of solvents. A tentative explanation is given on the basis of the presented results.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7431419 |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Forte Sara Ronca Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material Properties International Journal of Polymer Science |
| title | Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material Properties |
| title_full | Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material Properties |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material Properties |
| title_short | Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of Reaction Medium on Material Properties |
| title_sort | synthesis of disentangled ultra high molecular weight polyethylene influence of reaction medium on material properties |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7431419 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giuseppeforte synthesisofdisentangledultrahighmolecularweightpolyethyleneinfluenceofreactionmediumonmaterialproperties AT sararonca synthesisofdisentangledultrahighmolecularweightpolyethyleneinfluenceofreactionmediumonmaterialproperties |