Rheology and molecular structure of polyethylene melts

1. The molecular structure indices of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), i.e., the weighted-average (wt.-av.) molecular weight, the number of branch points of long-chain branchings per molecule, and the polydispersity index, were calculated from the data of gel-permeation chromatography, assuming that the Mendelson—Drott hypothesis holds. They show a fairly close correlational relationship to the index of the mechanical characteristics of this melt.