Abstract
Ultra-high modulus polyethylene (UHMPE) fibres have been treated using a novel 'non-plasma' treatment allowing the incorporation of various chemical functional groups onto the polymer surface. The process comprises two steps: corona discharge treatment, followed by silanization of the polymer surface by a solution of an organo-functional silane. Corona discharge treatment incorporates oxygen-containing functionalities, e.g. reactive hydroxyl groups, onto the polymer surface. The presence of reactive -OH groups provides the possibility of covalent linkage of any organo-functional silane to the corona discharge-treated polymer in the form of a fibre, film, sheet, or powder. The effectiveness of the process was assessed by examining the interlaminar fracture energy and flexural modulus and by SEM analysis of the fracture surfaces of composites fabricated from the untreated, corona discharge-treated, ammonia plasma-treated, and the amine-grafted (using the novel process) UHMPE fabric. A significant improvemen...
Published Version
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