Effect of Adhesion on Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Glass Fiber Composites, Based on Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Powders with Various Initial Particle Sizes.

Sergey V Panin,Vladislav O Alexenko,Lyudmila A Kornienko,Svetlana A Bochkareva,Qitao Huang,Dmitry G Buslovich,Filippo Berto,Iliya L Panov

doi:10.3390/ma13071602

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of adhesion between the non-polar, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) matrix and the glass fiber fillers of various lengths treated with the commercially available “KH-550” agent, on the mechanical and tribological properties of the UHMWPE-based composites. The motivation was to find the optimal compositions of the polymer composite, for the compression sintering manufacturing of lining plates for the protection of marine venders and construction vehicles, as well as transport equipment. It was shown that the initial powder size at equal molecular weight determined the distribution patterns of the glass fibers in the matrix, and, as a consequence, the mechanical and tribological properties of the composites. Based on the obtained experimental data and the results of the calculation by a developed computer algorithm, control parameters were determined to give practical recommendations (polymer powder size and glass fiber length), for the production of the UHMWPE-composites having specified mechanical and tribological characteristics. The “GUR4022 + 10% LGF” composite, loaded with the chopped 3 mm glass fibers treated with the “KH-550”, was recommended for severe operating conditions (high loads, including impact and abrasive wear). For mild operating conditions (including cases when the silane coupling agent could not be used), the “GUR2122 + 10% MGF” and “GUR2122 + 10% LGF” composites, based on the fine UHMWPE powder, were recommended. However, the cost and technological efficiency of the filler (flowability, dispersibility) and polymer powder processing should be taken into account, in addition to the specified mechanical and tribological properties.

Highlights

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) possesses improved mechanical and functional properties, including a low friction coefficient, high resistance to wear, acids and alkalis, ultraviolet and gamma radiation
It is seen that the mechanical properties of the composite, based on the fine GUR 2122 powder loaded with the annealed and treated glass fibers, almost doubled compared with neat UHMWPE, and was almost 1.5 times higher than the composite loaded annealed glass fibers (Table 3 and Figure 2a)
The elongation at break of the “GUR 2122 + 10% long (chopped) glass fiber (LGF)” composite was the smallest, which corresponded to the maximum strength

Summary

Introduction

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) possesses improved mechanical and functional properties, including a low friction coefficient, high resistance to wear, acids and alkalis, ultraviolet and gamma radiation. For this reason, UHMWPE is widely used in some industries and Materials 2020, 13, 1602; doi:10.3390/ma13071602 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials. The authors have studied the tribological and mechanical characteristics of the UHMWPE-based composites loaded with glass fibers (hereinafter referred “UHMWPE-based composites”), treated with conventional silane coupling agents [19]. It has been shown that the “KH-550” silane coupling agent (hereinafter referred to as “KH-550”) is the most efficient of them The latter has significantly improved the tribological properties of the UHMWPE-based composites over a wide range of loads and sliding speeds. These data are relevant for their use as high-strength and wear-resistant lining plates, for the protection of marine venders, construction vehicles (excavator buckets and bulldozers), as well as transport equipment (dump truck bodies and railway cars for bulk cargo transportation, hydraulic locks, etc.)

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