A Compendium of the Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene Balloon Films

Abstract : During the process of establishing test procedures that can be used in determining the suitability of various polyethylene films for balloon use and in subsequent testing of various balloon and balloon candidate materials much information has been collected on the mechanical properties of these films and the structural factors affecting them. This information includes the results of an extensive low temperature biaxial failure test sequence, a detailed discussion of the relationship of structure to mechanical properties and mechanical behavior, experimentation for the establishment of a failure criterion for balloon films the development of an approximate constitutive theory for polyethylene balloon films, and a discussion of the effect of orientation balance on mechanical properties. It is the purpose of the report to place this information at the disposal of the ballooning community. (Author)