Abstract
Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) gel films with different con centrations of 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 g/d$\ell$ and different gelation/crystallization temperatures. In order to investigate drawing behaviors of UHMWPE gel films were drawn under various zone drawing conditions. Through a series of experiments, it turned out that the initial concentration and gelation/crystallization temperature of PE solution caused significant changes in draw ratio of UHMWPE gel film. That is, the one-step zone draw ratio of the gel film for initial concentration of 0.5 g/d$\ell$ and gelation/crystallization temperature $25^{\circ}C$ was at its maximum and gradually decreased at higher or lower concentration and gelation/crystallization temperature. Moreover this tendency was similar to the maximum draw ratio data. Based on the above results, it may be concluded that the optimum concentration and gelation/crystallization temperature of the initial UHMWPE solution can be determined directly by the zone draw ratio.
