Molecular orientation and volume

[Samson4]

In the process for orienting molecular chains, for example dyneema, does the volume of the polymer change? In the process for creating dyneema, the fibers are drawn, heated and elongated. Would this change the volume of fiber?

I know the density for dyneema is listed at .97. The density of uhmwpe is listed at .94. I want to say it loses volume but these figures could be wrong. I was hoping there was a common sense answer from a molecular structure point of view.

 

[gtoguy97]

The volume of the polymer does not change in the process for orienting molecular chains. Dyneema and UHMWPE are both semi-crystalline polymers, meaning that the molecules are arranged in an orderly chain-like structure. This structure is relatively rigid, so the orientation process does not significantly alter the volume of the material.