Synergetic enhancement of interfacial properties and impact resistant of UHMWPE fiber reinforced composites by oxygen plasma modification

Abstract

This study reveals the synergetic enhancement of oxygen plasma treatment on the interfacial properties and impact resistant of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites (PMCs). The UHMWPE fiber reinforcement was modified by oxygen plasma with different parameters including input power, treatment time and gas flow rate. Then, the surface physicochemical properties of modified fibers were analyzed. Oxygen plasma modified UHMWPE/vinyl ester composites exhibited an enhanced interface shear performance of 90.99%, which would significantly influence the mechanical properties of the composites. The optimal parameters were proved to be an input power range of 150–180 W, a time range of 120–150 s, and a gas flow rate of 8sccm, at which situation the tensile strength had been enhanced 10.67%, the impact-resistant damage projection area and dent depth had been reduced up to 51.93% and 24%, respectively. Simultaneously, the energy dissipation pattern dominated by fiber fracture was gradually formed in the modified composites, which maximize exploitation of the fiber-reinforcing effect and improved the impact resistance.