Processing and thermal properties of molecularly oriented polymers

High molecular weight polymers that are linear in molecular construction can be oriented such that some of their physical properties in the oriented direction are enhanced. For over 50 years polymer orientation and processing has been extensively studied to improve the mechanical properties of polymers. In more recent history the anisotropic thermal properties of oriented polymers have been studied. This thesis investigates the thermal properties of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE) and explores applications for the same. This thesis details an effective means of aligning the molecules in bulk polyethylene sheets through stretching in the gel state. Tests have shown that bulk UHMW-PE can be stretched 50-80 times in xylene. The thermal conductivity of bulk UHMW-PE is 0.3 W/mK, while that of a sample stretched 20-25 times is over 4.5 W/mK.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Skow, Erik (Erik Dean)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gang Chen.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40368

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/40368