Mechanical Performances and Morphology of LDPE/UHMWPE Single-Polymer Composites Produced by Extrusion-Calendering Method

Extrusion-calendering method was developed to prepare single-polymer composites (SPCs) of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric reinforcing low density polyethylene (LDPE). Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) experiments were executed to determine the setup of extrusion temperature. Effects of the die temperature on the tensile and interfacial performances of SPCs were studied through the tensile and T-peel tests, respectively. The results showed that both tensile strength and modulus increased initially and decreased afterwards as the temperature increased. The peak values of tensile strength and modulus of PE SPCs, which are 10.8 and 3.5 times as high as those of the unreinforced LDPE respectively, were obtained at 150℃. Higher temperatures also give a positive effect on peel strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and camera were also used to observe the morphology of the SPCs samples.