The effect of temperature on the viscoelastic behavior of linear low-density polyethylene

Summary

Observations are reported on linear low-density polyethylene in isothermal torsional oscillation and relaxation tests at various temperatures ranging from room temperature to 110 ^∘C. Constitutive equations are derived for the viscoelastic response of a semicrystalline polymer at small strains. The polymer is treated as an equivalent network of strands bridged by junctions (entanglements, physical cross-links on the surfaces of crystallites and lamellar blocks). The network is thought of as an ensemble of meso-regions with various potential energies for rearrangement of strands. Two types of meso-domains are introduced: active, where strands separate from temporary junctions as they are excited by thermal fluctuations, and passive, where detachment of strands is prevented by the surrounding macromolecules. The time-dependent behavior of the ensemble reflects separation of active strands from their junctions and merging of dangling strands with the network. Stress–strain relations are developed by using the laws of thermodynamics. The governing equations involve six material constants that are found by fitting the experimental data. The study focuses on the effects of (i) temperature, (ii) the deformation mode (torsion versus bending), and (iii) the loading program (oscillations versus relaxation) on the adjustable parameters.