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Multiple melting peak analysis with gel-spun ultra-high molar mass polyethylene

  • Polymers
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Abstract

The multiple melting peaks observed on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of ultrahigh molar-mass polyethylene fibers (UHMMPE) are analyzed as a function of sample mass. Using modern DSC capable of recognizing single fibers of microgram size, it is shown that the multiple peaks are in part or completely due to sample packing. Loosely packed fibers fill the entire volume of the pan with rather large thermal resistance to heat flow. On melting, the fibers contract and flow to collect ultimately at the bottom of the pan. This process seems to be able to cause an artifact of multistage melting dependent on the properties of the fibers. A method is proposed to greatly reduce, or even eliminate, errors of this type. The crucial elements of the analysis of melting behavior and melting temperature are decreasing the sample size and packing the individual fibers in a proper geometry, or to introduce inert media to enhance heat transport.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, 379-96-1600, Knoxville, TN, USA

    A. Boller & B. Wunderlich

  2. Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 37831-6197, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    A. Boller & B. Wunderlich

Authors
  1. A. Boller
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  2. B. Wunderlich
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Additional information

This work was supported by the Division of Materials Research, National Science Foundation, Polymers Program, Grant # DMR 90-00520 and the Division of Materials Sciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US Department of Energy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. for the US Department of Energy, under contract number DE-ACOS-96OR22464. Support for instrumentation came from TA Instruments, Inc. and Mettler-Toledo, research support was also given by ICI Paints.

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Boller, A., Wunderlich, B. Multiple melting peak analysis with gel-spun ultra-high molar mass polyethylene. Journal of Thermal Analysis 49, 343–349 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01987456

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