| Abstract: | The influence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐containing additives on the extrusion behavior of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/polypropylene (UHMWPE/PP) blend was studied. It was found that the addition of small amounts of PEG to UHMWPE/PP blend resulted in significant reduction of die pressure and melt viscosity, and obvious increase of the flow rate at a given die pressure, while PEG/diatomite binary additives enhanced the improvement in the processability of UHMWPE/PP blend. When pure HDPE was extruded with the die through which UHMWPE/PP/PEG blend was previously extruded, the extrusion pressure of HDPE increased with the extrusion time gradually. This meant that PEG might migrate to the die wall surface and coat it in the extrusion of UHMWPE/PP/PEG blend. FTIR spectra and SEM micrographs of the UHMWPE/PP/PEG extrudates indicated that PEG located not only at the surface but also in the interior of the extrudates. So, the external lubrication at the die wall, combined with the internal lubrication to induce interphase slippage of the blend, was proposed to be responsible for the reduction of die pressure and viscosity. In addition, an ultrahigh molecular weight polysiloxane and a fluoropolymer processing aid were used as processing aids in the extrusion of UHMWPE/PP as control, and the results showed that only minor reduction effects in die pressure and melt viscosity were achieved at their suggested loading level. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 1282–1288, 2006 |
