Rapid examination of annealing conditions for HDPE using indentation microhardness test

Abstract

The capability and sensitivity of the Vickers microhardness test for employment as an alternative to tensile tests and thermal analysis (DSC) in studying the annealing conditions for HDPE were studied. It was found that increasing annealing temperature caused an increase in all properties measured, including crystallinity, melting temperature, tensile modulus, tensile yield strength and microhardness. Microhardness showed a similar trend of change with annealing temperature as the tensile properties. However, in the case of thermal properties, the microhardness test, similarly to the tensile test, cannot be directly used due to the different nature of properties measured. Thermal analysis tends to measure separate factors which induce change whereas mechanical testing measures the properties which have resulted from combined factors. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.