Melt spinning flow behaviour of high-density polyethylene blended with low-density polyethylene

Abstract

The melt spinning flow behaviour of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blended with a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was studied using a melt spinning technique in temperature ranging from 160 to 200°C and die extrusion velocity varying from 9 to 36 mm s⁻¹. The results showed that the melt apparent extension viscosity of the blends was higher than those of the LDPE and HDPE; the melt apparent extension viscosity decreased with increasing temperature; while the melt apparent extension viscosity increased with increasing extension strain rate when the extension strain rate was lower than 0.2 s⁻¹, and then decreased; the melt apparent extension viscosity reached up to a maximum value when extension strain rate was about 0.2 s⁻¹; the relationship between the melt apparent extension viscosity and the LDPE weight fraction did not follow the mixing rule.