Chain-extended flexible polymers

High‐strength/high‐modulus structures such as fibres, tapes and rods can be produced currently on the basis of intrinsically flexible macromolecules. The prime example amongst these new developments is gelspinning of high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene resulting in fibrous structures possessing tenacities of 3–4 GPa and corresponding moduli up to appr. 150 GPa. The basic aspects of chain‐extension for polyethylene will be discussed in relation to the various routes toward oriented/extended PE structures as well as recent developments concerning the utilization of other flexible polymeric systems for the production of high‐strength/high‐modulus fibres.