Kinetics of Changes in the Melting Point of Highly Oriented UHMWPE during Radiation–Oxidative Aging
摘要
Abstract
Kinetic features of changes in the melting temperature Tm of ultra-oriented ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) due to radiation oxidation have been established. The relationship between changes in Tm and the strength of oriented UHMWPE (gel fibers) after irradiation in air and the structural properties of the polymer has been demonstrated. A kinetic model was derived to take into account the influence of the supramolecular (fibrillar) structure of the oriented polymer and the kinetics of cleavage of tie macromolecules on changes in the melting parameters of crystallites and the strength of oriented UHMWPE during radiation oxidation.