Abstract
The thermal behaviour of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) of different molecular weights was examined by thermal analysis methods. The melting temperatureT m and the heat of melting δH were measured by the DSC method. The thermooxidative degradation process was investigated by using a MOM Q-1500 D derivatograph at various heating rates in air atmosphere. The initial decomposition temperatureT i was determined from the TG curves, and other characteristic temperatures of decomposition were calculated. It was found thatT m and δH are higher for UHMWPE than those for HDPE, i.e. 146‡C and 195 J g−1 for UHMWPE as compared with 133‡C and 166 J g−1 for HDPE. The thermal behaviour of the investigated UHMWPE samples is not significantly influenced by molecular weight.
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Rudnik, E., Dobkowski, Z. Thermal degradation of UHMWPE. Journal of Thermal Analysis 49, 471–475 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01987473
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01987473