Developments in oriented polymers, 1970-2004

The discovery of methods to make highly oriented polymers has given tremendous stimulus to both basic polymer science and industrial developments in the period 1970 to the present. High modulus, high strength fibres for aramids and polyethylene, are based on very different methodologies but the ultimate result is similar in producing fully extended polymer chains. For polymers in solid sections, the enhancement of properties is less dramatic but still very worthwhile. In this case, three methods are described: hydrostatic extrusion, die-drawing and hot compaction of oriented fibres and tapes. Hot compaction is a new technique with many possibilities for which a wide range of applications has already been identified.