Effect of fiber surface treatments on the strength of bonding between dyneema® fiber and HDPE matrix

Abstract

ABSTRACT The focus of this study is to identify the best surface treatment to maximize the bonding between a commercially available Dyneema® fiber and a high-density polyethylene matrix. The effect of a new sol-gel derived organic-inorganic hybrid coating on interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was compared with that of oxygen plasma and chromic acid treatments identified by previous studies. The treated fiber surfaces were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to support the analysis using IFSS. The fiber surface became rough after the treatments, which increased with treatment time. The XPS spectra revealed a similar change in surface chemistry of fibers for sol-gel treatment for 1 min and plasma treatment for 6 min, which resulted in a similar enhancement in IFSS when compared to untreated fiber. Chromic acid treatment for 1 min resulted in the largest change in the percentage of carbon- and oxygen-containing groups on the treated surface when compared to the untreated surface as well as maximum enhancement of the IFSS over untreated fiber.