Empirical Models For End-use Properties Prediction Of Ldpe: Application In The Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry

The objective of this work is to develop empirical models to predict end use properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE) resins as functions of two intrinsic properties easily measured in the polymers industry. The most important properties for application in the flexible plastic packaging industry were evaluated experimentally for seven commercial polymer grades. Statistical correlation analysis was performed for all variables and used as the basis for proper choice of inputs to each model output. Intrinsic properties selected for resin characterization are fluidity index (FI), which is essentially an indirect measurement of viscosity and weight average molecular weight (MW), and density. In general, models developed are able to reproduce and predict experimental data within experimental accuracy and show that a significant number of end use properties improve as the MW and density increase. Optical properties are mainly determined by the polymer morphology.1112330Lu, J., Sue, H.-J., Rieker, T.P., Dual crystalline texture in HDPE blown films and its implication on mechanical properties (2001) Polymer, 42 (10), pp. 4635-4646Zhang, X., Ajji, A., Verilhac, J.-M., Processing-structure-properties relationship of multilayer films. I. Structure characterization (2001) Polymer, 42 (19), pp. 8179-8195Latadc, A., Embiruçu, M., Mattos Neto, A.G., Pinto, J.C., Modeling of end-use properties of poly(propylene/ethylene) resins (2001) Polymer Testing, 20 (4), pp. 419-439Mano EB, editor. Polímeros como materiais de engenharia. revised ed. São Paulo: Blucher1991Nunes, R.W., Martin, J.R., Johnson, J.F., Influence of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution on mechanical properties of polymers (1982) Polymer Engineering and Science, 22 (4), pp. 205-228Kundu, P.P., Biswas, J., Kim, H., Choe, S., Influence of film preparation procedures on the crystallinity, morphology and mechanical properties of LLDPE films (2003) European Polymer Journal, 39 (8), pp. 1585-159