Fibers
Drawing of a polymer above Tg, but below TM, may increase the alignment of the chains in the direction of the draw.
- Alignment may be enhanced when the polymers have stiff backbones, so that they form liquid crystals when the concentration is high enough.
- Alignment may also be enhanced by drawing flexible polymers, such as polyethylene, from a gel, so that entanglements provide less resistance to the production of good alignment.
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July 1, 1999
Wayne L. Mattice: wlm@polymer.uakron.edu