Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
A process for producing a stretched article of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, which comprises (1) melt-kneading a mixture composed (A) 15 to 80 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of components (A) and (B), of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene having an inherent viscosity [η], determined at 135°C in decalin, of at least 5 dl/g, and (B) 85 to 20 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of components (A) and (B), of an aliphatic compound (b 1 ) of at least 8 carbon atoms having a melting point, determined by the DSC method, of at least 10°C and a boiling point of at least 130°C and selected from aliphatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic acid amides, aliphatic carboxylic acid esters, aliphatic mercaptans, aliphatic aldehydes and aliphatic ketones, optionally up to 80% by weight of the aliphatic compound (b 1 ) being replaced by a hydrocarbon polymer (b 2 ) having a softening point, determined by the method of JIS K-2531, of not more than 130°C and a weight average molecular weight (Mw), determined by the GPC method, of not more than 2,000, in a screw extruder while maintaining the mixture at a temperature from the melting point, determined by the DSC method, of the mixture to 300°C, (2) melt-extruding the molten mixture through a die kept at a temperature from the melting point, determined by the DSC method, of the mixture to 300°C, (3) cooling the resulting unstretched extrudate to solidify it, and (4) subjecting the unstretched solidified extrudate to a stretching treatment at a temperature from the melting point, determined by the DSC method, of component (B) to a point 20°C above the melting point of the mixture at a stretch ratio of either at least 3:1 when step (2) is carried out while a draft is applied to the unstretched extrudate or at least 10:1 when step (2) is carried out in the absence of a draft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
318 words
A process for producing a stretched article of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, which comprises (1) melt-kneading a mixture composed (A) 15 to 80 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of components (A) and (B), of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene having an inherent viscosity [η], determined at 135°C in decalin, of at least 5 dl/g, and (B) 85 to 20 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of components (A) and (B), of an aliphatic compound (b 1 ) of at least 8 carbon atoms having a melting point, determined by the DSC method, of at least 10°C and a boiling point of at least 130°C and selected from aliphatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic acid amides, aliphatic carboxylic acid esters, aliphatic mercaptans, aliphatic aldehydes and aliphatic ketones, optionally up to 80% by weight of the aliphatic compound (b 1 ) being replaced by a hydrocarbon polymer (b 2 ) having a softening point, determined by the method of JIS K-2531, of not more than 130°C and a weight average molecular weight (Mw), determined by the GPC method, of not more than 2,000, in a screw extruder while maintaining the mixture at a temperature from the melting point, determined by the DSC method, of the mixture to 300°C, (2) melt-extruding the molten mixture through a die kept at a temperature from the melting point, determined by the DSC method, of the mixture to 300°C, (3) cooling the resulting unstretched extrudate to solidify it, and (4) subjecting the unstretched solidified extrudate to a stretching treatment at a temperature from the melting point, determined by the DSC method, of component (B) to a point 20°C above the melting point of the mixture at a stretch ratio of either at least 3:1 when step (2) is carried out while a draft is applied to the unstretched extrudate or at least 10:1 when step (2) is carried out in the absence of a draft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the inherent viscosity of the ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (A) is 5 to 30 dl/g.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aliphatic compound (b 1 ) has from 12 to 50 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the amount of the hydrocarbon polymer (b 2 ) is from 5 to 80% by weight based on the weight of the aliphatic compound (b1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aliphatic compound (b 1 ) is at least one selected from capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, capramide, lauric amide, palmitic amide, stearylamide and stearylacetic acid esters.