SUPERMOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF HIGHLY ORIENT ED POLYETHYLENE

The structure of highly oriented samples of linear PE, prepared by ori netational crystallization and orientaional drawing in a continuous re gime, was studied by scanning electron microscopy. A marked difference between the structures of orientation-crystallized samples and sample s prepared by two-stage orientational drawing was revealed. A certain correlation between the development of polymer structure and changes i n mechanical properties associated with polymer orientation was establ ished. The mechanism for the development and localization of structura l defects was advanced.