Electron beam irradiation assisted preparation of UHMWPE fiber with 3D cross-linked structure and outstanding creep resistance

Abstract

A high creep resistance UHMWPE fiber was prepared by electron beam (EB) irradiation. The UHMWPE fiber samples impregnated with antioxidants were irradiated in air by an electron accelerator and then annealed. The irradiated fibers exhibited higher thermal decomposition temperature, smaller crystalline size and high degree of cross-linking than the initial fiber. The gel content of radiation cross-linking fiber was up to 88%, indicating that cross-linking reaction had occurred between the molecular chains in amorphous region, which greatly reduced the slippage of the molecular chains. The creep curves of the modified fibers were obtained by a stable creep test method. At room temperature, the creep elongation of radiation cross-linked fibers reduced by more than 30%. Compared with unmodified UHMWPE fiber, cross-linked UHMWPE fibers still exhibited excellent creep resistance at high temperatures and the optimal absorbed dose was 100 kGy. In addition, the radial shrinkage of the fiber caused by radiation cross-linking further proved the irradiation-induced cross-linking reaction in the fibers. The study provides a simple modification strategy for the preparation and characterization of high creep resistance UHWMPE fiber, which is beneficial to broaden the application, especially for military protection products.