Relationship Between Particle Morphology and Structure, Properties of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Resin

Two kinds of UHMWPE resin with different particle morphologies were obtained through different polymerization processes. And SEM, hot stage microscope, rotary rheometer, DSC, high temperature Ubbelohde viscometer were used to study the structure and properties of UHMWPE resins. The results show that the resin particles after prepolymerization are dense, regular, and spherical, and the particle size is positively correlated with the molecular weight. And the larger the particle size is, the greater the viscosity of the UHMWPE/white oil systems is. The surface of resin particles without prepolymerization is uneven and split in white oil; the viscosity will fluctuate during the heating process, and there is no correlation between the particle size and molecular weight or the viscosity of the UHMWPE/white oil systems. © 2020, Editorial Board of Polymer Materials Science & Engineering. All right reserved.