Evaluation of Stresses in a Two-Layer Co-Extruded LDPE Melt Blown Film

Despite the fast growth of co-extruded film production, little research work has been devoted to this process. Films of LDPE, ULDPE, LDPE/ULDPE and ULDPE/LDPE were produced at various processing conditions. A continuous experimental set up was used to evaluate the in-plane birefringence during bubble formation. The data collected were used to derive the axial and transverse stresses. A non-isothermal Newtonian model that allows the determination of the kinematics and dynamics of the two-layer film blowing process was then used to calculate the axial and transverse stress. Generally the calculated stresses are in agreement with the experimental values.