Interchain interaction in ultradrawing UHMWPE/Tri-O-alkylcellulose blend film obtained by gelation/casting from solution

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, Mw = 5,000,000) and tri-O-octadecylcellulose (C18, DP = 220) blend films were prepared in decahydronaphthalene solution. The film-formability, drawability, and deformation mechanism of the films with different compositions are investigated. The as-casted blend film of 75/25 (PE/C18, wt%) did not exhibit indication of phase separation of each component, and the draw ratio reached 130 times as the maximum, indicating that at the composition the two components seemed to be mixed intimately. By the stretching, the molecular chains of both PE and C18 were oriented along the stretching direction in the blend film. Further, the octadecyl groups on the glucopyranose ring were also oriented in the stretching direction. The above results were proved by polarized infrared measurements. The tensile strength of the drawn sample was also investigated to lead this system to an environmentally-friendly material with a high strength.