HOMOGENEOUS, HIGH MODULUS ULTRAHIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES AND PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF

摘要

A homogeneous composite is provided comprising (a) about 0.5 to 90 % by weight of an ultrahigh molecular weight linear polyethylene having a molecular weight of at least about 400,000, a crystalline melting point of greater than 143 DEG C, the reduction of said melting point upon remelting being at least 3 DEG C, and a crystal morphology comprising a bimodal distribution of molecular chain fold spacings reflecting significant populations of both folded and very highly extended molecular chains, and (b) about 0.5 to 90 % by weight of at least one filler compound having a neutral-to-acidic surface, said polyethylene being polymerized onto the surface of said filler, and said composite being substantially free of polymer-free filler and of filler-free polymer. Also provided are processes for the preparation of such composites.