Control of infrared scattering in polymer films and fibers

In this work, UHMWPE films with different additives were successfully fabricated via a combination of solvent-casting and unixial stretching technique at different draw ratio while fibers of high density polyethylene (HDPE) with silicon and oxide microcomposites were produced by melt-spinning consisting of twin-screw extrusion at various collection rates. The SEM images and DSC data showed the film structure becomes highly oriented along stretching direction and its melting temperature and crystallinity changes considerably by increasing the draw ratio, while the diameters of the fiber samples were reduced by increasing the fiber collecting speed and its crystallinity varies insignificantly with respect to the collecting speed. The optical properties of the polyethylene films and fibers were investigated in the long wave infrared (LWIR) spectral range.