Crosslinking and electrical characterization of metallocene linear low density polyethylene

One of the most important factors affecting macroscopic physical properties of polyethylene is the microstructure of the polymer chain. For example, the crystallinity of polyethylene is significantly controlled by the molecular architecture. Metallocene linear low density polyethylene features unique characteristics of a narrow molecular weight distribution and uniform composition distribution. In order to investigate the influence of polymer structure on the crosslinking and electrical properties of polyethylene, metallocene linear low density polyethylene samples with different degrees of short chain branching groups are evaluated. The cure behavior is studied through the rate of organic peroxide decomposition in a moving die rheometer, followed by cure kinetics analysis. The dielectric properties are studied as a function of degree of crystallinity, which is originated from the content of short chain branching in metallocene linear low density polyethylene.