Model of the orientation reinforcement of polymers and the preparation of high-strength polyethylene fibres

Ideas on the existence of a network of molecular bonds rearranged during stretching are used to construct a model helping to calculate the limiting degrees of extension λ for different conditions of formation of samples and the corresponding strength values σ. The experimental data for a number of polymers were found to be in good agreement with the calculation. On formation of PE fibres from solution by creating a “sparse” network it was possible to reach values λ = 150–200, σ = 7 GPa, Young's modulus of 144 and an acoustic modulus of 200 GPa.