Effect on the elastic modulus of high-density polyethylene of differing thermal treatments

The effect of different thermal treatments on the elastic modulus of high‐density polyethylene has been studied in order to determine which of the parameters defining the polymer morphology has the major effect on the modulus. After examination of the effects of crystallinity, spherulite size, and lamellar thickness, it is concluded that it is the spherulite size which plays the dominant role in controlling the magnitude of the modulus. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.