Structural organization and thermomechanical properties of welded joints of different types of polyethylene PE-80/PE-100 formed under effect of a strong constant magnetic field

Two types of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), namely PE-80 and PE-100, have been used for welding experiments and further investigations of welded joints’ structure, thermomechanical and performance properties. Samples with dimensions of 8·8 and 8·25 mm have been welded by heated tool at 200 C and 0,2 MPa of upset pressure applied for 60 sec. Cooling time under pressure was 6 minutes. After that the joints have been cooled down to the room temperature without pressure applied. Welding of polyethylene has been performed under magnetic field and in the absence of this field. Structural peculiarities, thermomechanical and performance properties of PE-80/PE-100 weld joint received with and without effect of constant magnetic field (B~1 T) have been investigated. Using the wide-angle X-ray diffraction method it has been shown that the effect of perpendicular constant magnetic field on the melts of different-type polyethylene specimens during their welding causes the formation of aligned structure, where the axis of texture has the same direction with magnetic field. This also causes the improvement of the weld’s thermomechanical and mechanical properties. The formation of the welded joint under the effect of parallel magnetic field leads to the deterioration of its physical-mechanical characteristics, because of reaction of the force field, that is applied during welding, to the effect of magnetic field