Shear-induced epitaxial crystallization in injection-molded bars of high-density polyethylene/isotactic polypropylene blends

As a continuation of our previous works on exploring shear-induced epitaxial crystallization of polyolefin blends during practical molding processing [Na et al. Polymer 2005; 46, 819 and 5258], the present study focused on the importance of molecular weight on the formation of epitaxial structure in injection-molded bars of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blends. By choosing two kinds of HDPE and two kinds of iPP with high molecular weight or low molecular weight, four blends with different molecular weight combinations can be designed. After making the blends via melt mixing, the injection-molded bars were prepared in a so-called dynamic packing injection molding equipment where repeated shearing was imposed on the melts during the solidification stage. Crystal structure and orientation were estimated mainly through 2D-WAXD. Our results indicated that an appropriate matching of low molecular weight HDPE and high molecular weight iPP was more favorable for epitaxial crystallization than other component matches. The effects of orientation and epitaxy on the re-crystallization behaviors of polyolefin blends have been elucidated in detail through PLM experiments. Moreover, epitaxy has been proved to play a positive effect in determining the ultimate mechanical properties of injection-molded bars.