Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibers Research Articles

Thermal aging behavior and heat resistance mechanism of ultraviolet crosslinked ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene fiber

AbstractAs advances in heat resistant ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber via ultraviolet (UV) crosslinking, it is worth paying attention to its thermal aging behavior and heat resistance mechanism. UHMWPE fibers in different forms, the fully drawn yarn (FDY) and the UV crosslinked FDY (UVFDY), are subjected to isothermal aging at 135°C. The effects of thermal aging on their surface morphology and mechanical properties are studied and compared initially. The results demonstrate that UVFDY is a kind of a heat‐resistant fiber. Subsequently, to reveal the heat resistance mechanism of UVFDY, its crystalline and orientation structure evolution during thermal aging are further studied. It is indicated that the formation of dense‐packing crystals and disorientation behavior lead to fiber shrink, so that a number of grooves appear on the fiber surface. Since the crosslinked stucture of UVFDY hinders its molecules movement, the crystallization and disorientation behavior of UVFDY are weaker than those of FDY, resulting in UVFDY possesses slighter thermal shrinkage (Ts), fewer grooves and better mechanical properties than those of FDY. Therefore, the heat resistance of the fiber improves effectively after UV crosslinking. This work provides insights into the structure–property relationship of UVFDY during thermal aging, and offers basis data for its application in specific conditions.

Influence of Oxygen/Argon/Nitrogen multi-component plasma modification on interlayer toughening of UHMWPE fiber reinforced composites

The study reveals the influence of glow discharged three gas sources of Oxygen/Argon/Nitrogen plasma modification on interlayer toughening of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber reinforced composite. The failure modes under bending, tensile and interlayer fracture toughness testing were analyzed through acoustic emission (AE) technology. The results showed that Oxygen/Argon/Nitrogen multi-component plasma modified fiber introduced more hydrophilic groups such as hydrogen and hydroxyl groups, and significantly enhanced the binding of fiber and matrix. The GⅠC (Mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness) of multi-component plasma modified composites exhibited increased by 61.67 %, 40.88 % and 18.01 % compared to untreated, Oxygen and Oxygen/Argon plasma, respectively, while GⅡC (Mode-II interlaminar fracture toughness) increased by 38.57 %, 25.57 % and 23.09 %. AE cluster analysis exhibited that multi-component plasma modified composites formed an energy dissipation mechanism dominated by fiber breakage. Additionally, the oxygen, argon, and nitrogen plasma modification have a synergistic effect on interlayer toughening.

Polymer Physics behind the Gel-Spinning of UHMWPE Fibers.

Gel-spinning of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers has attracted great interest in academia and industry since its birth and commercialization in the 1980s, due to unique properties such as high modulus, low density, and excellent chemical resistance. However, the high viscosity and long relaxation time greatly complicate processing. In industry, solvents, like decalin and paraffin oil, usually disentangle the physical networks and promote final drawability. From extruding the polymer solution to post-solid-stretching, many polymer physics problems that accompany high-modulus fiber gel-spinning should be understood and addressed. In this review, by detailed discussions about the effect of entanglements and intracrystalline chain dynamics on the mechanical properties of UHMWPE, theoretical descriptions of the structure formation of disentangled UHMWPE crystals, and the origin of high modulus and strength of final fibers are provided. Several physical intrinsic key factors are also discussed, revealing why UHMWPE is an ideal material for producing high-performance fibers.

High elastic modulus polyethylene: Process‐structure‐property relationships

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that gel‐spun‐ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) produces thin fibril products that exhibit high tensile moduli (35–200 GPa). The elaborate gel‐spinning process involves complex drawing stages with solvent incorporation. In this study, a previously proposed two‐stage, environmentally friendly solventless methodology was optimized. The two‐stage process included cross‐rolling (Stage 1) and orientation (Stage 2) to obtain oriented HDPE thin rods with an impressively high modulus using conventional HDPE. The optimization of the process was successfully achieved by thoroughly investigating the voiding mechanism. In addition, rapid relaxation during orientation supports the cavitation mechanism. Owing to this optimization, a modulus of 75 GPa was readily attained. The significant enhancement in the mechanical properties was a direct result of the optimization of our processing methodology to achieve a high degree of orientation. Notably, the fabricated oriented HDPE thin rods showed moduli comparable to those of the gel‐spun UHMWPE fibers but were at least 40 times thicker. Our comprehensive characterization of the voiding process and stress relaxation during our two‐stage process indicated the formation of a highly taut network structure and craze‐like configuration with controlled delamination. Thus, our proposed hierarchical model was refined to elucidate the process‐structure‐property relationships in greater detail.Highlights An optimized two‐stage environmentally friendly solventless process has been developed to create oriented polyethylene thin rods with impressively high modulus (75 GPa). The optimization was achieved by thoroughly investigating the voiding effect during cross‐rolling and crystalline relaxation during orientation. Comparison of the modulus from our process are similar to various commercial, gel‐spun fibers. Our thin rod products are at least 40 times thicker than commercial gel‐spun fibers. The thin rod product has impressively high modulus‐to‐weight and strength‐to‐weight ratios for future study in composite systems.

Flexible, lightweight, high strength and high efficiently hierarchical Gd2O3/PE composites based on the UHMWPE fibers with self-reinforcing strategy for thermal neutron shielding

To tackle the challenge for materials in the fields such as deep space exploration with flexibility, light weight, high strength, and highly efficient neutron shielding properties, a novel organic-inorganic composites has been developed in this study. Based on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers self-reinforcing linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix method and hierarchical scattering and absorption strategy, a flexibly and light-weight multilayer structure has been designed with alternating gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3)/LLDPE layers and UHMWPE fiber layers by stacking hot-pressing to augment the mechanical properties and neutron shielding efficiency of the composites. Moreover, PE, including UHMWPE fibers and LLDPE matrix, and Gd2O3 has been utilized as neutron shielding element to enhance its neutron scattering and absorption capability via an abundance of hydrogen atoms and Gd element. The neutron shielding performance of the multilayer Gd2O3/UHMWPE/LLDPE composite, with a low density of ca. 1 g/cm3, has been verified by neutron shielding test and a simulation method of equivalent Gd areal density (EGdAD). As a result, an ca. 90.0% neutron shielding efficiency can be achieved with only 2 mm thickness of the composites (with 20 wt% Gd2O3), and an EGdAD value of 0.0489 g/cm3 is required to achieve 99% shielding efficiency. Moreover, the composites have a significant improvement in the tensile strength and modulus, with an average increase of 1000% (15.86 MPa–179.95 MPa) and 1238% (230.53 MPa–2787.55 MPa) compared to the Gd2O3/LLDPE composites, respectively. The comprehensive performance of our developed multilayer Gd2O3/UHMWPE/LLDPE composites is superior to previously reported results in the literatures. Therefore, it has great application prospect in the various fields like aerospace.

Synergistically improving interface behavior by designing physical twisting structure and “rigid-flexible” interface layer on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber surface

The application limitations of Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber reinforced composites in different fields can be attributed to their surface chemical inertness and weak interfacial adhesion. Herein, we developed a novel method for preparation of a stable biomimetic layer surface treatment, via the combination use of physical twisting structure and “rigid-flexible” interface layer. Unlike the conventional methods under special conditions, in this method, the UHMWPE fibers were converted into twisting structure, and the efficient nanoparticle deposition facilitated on the fiber surface in the presence of reductive dopamine coating. Moreover, the multi-structured synergy promotes the roughness of the T-UHMWPE fiber, which improves the interface bonding strength of the fibers-reinforced composites. The effectiveness of the modified treatment was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), microscopic confocal laser Raman spectrometer (Raman), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle and surface free energy. The surface morphology and interfacial properties of the treatment was evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The experimental results demonstrated that the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the modified T-UHMWPE was improved by 218 %, compared with those of the unmodified UHWMPE fibers. This innovative approach, combining physical twisting structure and “rigid-flexible” interface layer, would provide a valuable potential for the preparation of advanced UHMWPE reenforced composites with high interfacial bond strength.

Tensile Strength Statistics and Fracture Mechanism of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibers: On the Weibull Distribution.

To study the distribution of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE) strength, three groups of UHMWPE fibers were spun by the gel spinning method, which was undrafted raw fibers (with high strain at break) and fibers with different prespinning and postspinning draw ratios. It is found that even when the strain at break (εb) > 46%, the tensile strength of the fiber still obeys the Weibull distribution. The draw ratio has a great influence on the distribution of fiber strength, especially the draw ratios of the spinneret in the prespinning process. It may be that different drafting processes affect the fracture mechanism of the fibers. This paper analyzes and discusses that and proves it by differential scanning calorimetry and the taut tie molecules (TTMs) fractions. The parameters of the Weibull distribution suggest the quality of the fiber. The Weibull modulus is closely related to the dispersion of the fiber properties and processing parameters. The characteristic strength is similar to the test average strength, which is more suitable for the judgment of fiber reliability in actual use. At the same time, the normality of the samples was tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, Jarque-Bera test, and quantile-quantile (Q-Q) plots, and the strength distribution was visually displayed by the bell curve. The results show that the Gaussian distribution is not so suitable to describe the strength distribution of the stretched fiber compared to the Weibull distribution.

The Development and Performance of Knitted Cool Fabric Based on Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

In order to withstand high-temperature environments, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers with cooling properties are being increasingly used in personal thermal management textiles during the summer. However, there is relatively little research on its combination with knitting. In this paper, we combine UHMWPE fiber and knitting structure to investigate the impact of varying UHMWPE fiber content and different knitting structures on the heat and humidity comfort as well as the cooling properties of fabrics. For this purpose, five kinds of different proportions of UHMWPE and polyamide yarn preparation, as well as five kinds of knitted tissue structures based on woven tissue were designed to weave 25 knitted fabrics. The air permeability, moisture permeability, moisture absorption and humidity conduction, thermal property, and contact cool feeling property of the fabrics were tested. Then, orthogonal analysis and correlation analysis were used to statistically evaluate the properties of the fabrics statistically. The results show that as the UHMWPE content increases, the air permeability, heat conductivity, and contact cool feeling property of the fabrics improve. The moisture permeability, moisture absorption and humidity conductivity of fabrics containing UHMWPE are superior to those containing only polyamide. The air permeability, moisture permeability, and thermal conductivity of the fabrics formed by the tuck plating organization are superior to those of the flat needle plating and float wire plating organization. The fabric formed by 2 separate 2 float wire organization has the best moisture absorption, humidity conduction, contact cool feeling property.

The penetration resistance behavior and corresponding size effects of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composite laminates

Focusing on the energy absorption characteristics of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber laminated panels, this study conducts ballistic tests and numerical simulations using 6 mm spherical projectiles to impact the UHMWPE laminated panels. The residual velocity characteristics, energy absorption patterns, and failure modes of the UHMWPE laminated panels under steel ball impacts were analyzed. The results show that the residual velocity of the steel ball increases with the increase of the incident velocity. In the velocity range near the ballistic limit velocity, the residual velocity of the steel ball increases sharply. When the incident velocity exceeds 340 m/s, the increase in residual velocity gradually slows down, tending towards a straight line. When the steel ball velocity is less than 330 m/s, the energy absorption of the UHMWPE laminated panels exhibits linear growth with increasing velocity, with a maximum energy absorption of 47.3 J. In the 327–340 m/s velocity range, the energy absorption of the laminated panels drops sharply from 47 J to around 30 J. In the 340 m/s–600 m/s velocity range, the decline in energy absorption gradually becomes more moderate, decreasing to around 20 J. Beyond 500 m/s, the energy absorbed by the UHMWPE laminated panels stabilizes with increasing velocity, and the fiber tensile failure is the main form of energy absorption of UHMWPE composite laminates under ballistic impact. The failure process of UHMWPE laminated panels presents a multi-stage failure mode, including fiber shear failure, tensile failure, and delamination. As the projectile’s incident velocity increases, the damage mechanism of the UHMWPE laminated panels transitions from tensile-dominated to shear plugging-dominated. Through similarity theory analysis, under certain conditions, the ballistic limit velocity and the dimensionless parameter of unit energy absorption for the UHMWPE laminated panels satisfy geometric similarity.

Bio-inspired copper ion-chelated chitosan coating modified UHMWPE fibers for enhanced interfacial properties of composites

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers are broadly applied in lightweight and high-strength composite fiber materials. However, the development of UHMWPE fibers is limited by their smooth and chemically inert surfaces. To address the issues, a modified UHMWPE fibers material has been fabricated through the chelation reaction between Cu2+ and chitosan coatings within the surface of fibers after plasma treatment, which is inspired by the hardening mechanism, a crosslinked network between metal ions and proteins/polysaccharides of the tips and edges in arthropod-specific cuticular tools. The coatings improve the surface wettability and interfacial bonding ability, which are beneficial in extending the application range of UHMWPE fibers. More importantly, compared to the unmodified UHMWPE fiber cloths, the tensile property of the modified fiber cloths is increased by 18.89% without damaging the strength, which is infrequent in modified UHMWPE fibers. Furthermore, the interlaminar shear strength and fracture toughness of the modified fibers laminate are increased by 37.72% and 135.90%, respectively. These improvements can be attributed to the synergistic effects between the surface activity and the tiny bumps of the modified UHMWPE fibers. Hence, this work provides a more straightforward and less damaging idea of fiber modification for manufacturing desirable protective and medical materials.

Effects of stearic acid on the tensile properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers

AbstractFor the purpose of the development of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers with improved tensile properties, the stearic acid (SA) was added to the gel spinning of UHMWPE and acted as a lubricant film. SA addition was intended to be 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 wt% of UHMWPE for forming the SA modified UHMWPE fibers. The tensile properties, thermal properties, crystallization properties, and orientation properties of the prepared UHMWPE fibers were systematically investigated. Results show that there is a more significant tensile property for UHMWPE fibers as SA addition is 0.6 wt%. Their tensile strength and tensile modulus reach 32.86 and 1580.89 cN/dtex, which are raised to an extent of 12.0% and 7.7%, respectively, compared with UHMWPE fibers alone. Moreover, the thermal properties, crystallization properties, and orientation properties of the prepared UHMWPE fibers are enhanced observably when the SA addition is 0.6 wt%.

UHMWPE fibers reinforced gradient structure to break the thermal-dielectric-mechanical trade-off in high filled polyethylene

In view of the diversified demands for thermal management materials in soaring developments of electrical systems, the high thermally conductive composites often suffer from their poor mechanical properties and electrical insulation. Targeting at enhancing simultaneous thermal conductivity, dielectric and mechanical properties, the fibers reinforced gradient structured polyethylene-based composites consisting of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber layer and hybrid-filled layer are proposed and successfully prepared by simple overlapping-hot pressing. The fibers collaborated with gradient arrangement of hybrid-filled layer in modulating the temperature, electric and stress field distribution. The resultant as-designed composites exhibit excellent thermal conductivity of 0.91 W/(m·K), ultrahigh tensile strength of 104.7 MPa and superior breakdown strength of 161.5 kV/mm, which are increased by 18%, 1374% and 37% than those of the homogeneous composites, respectively. This work provides a new strategy for manufacturing high-performance polymer-based composites.

Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High-Performance Polyethylene-Fiber-Reinforced Recycled-Brick-Aggregate Concrete.

The utilization of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers (UHMWPEFs) to enhance recycled-brick-aggregate concrete represents an efficacious approach for ameliorating the concrete's performance. This investigation addresses the influences of recycled-brick aggregates (RAs) and UHMWPEFs on the concrete's slump, shrinkage, flexural strength, resistance to chloride-ion ingress, and freeze-thaw durability. The mechanisms through which UHMWPEFs ameliorate the performance of the recycled-brick-aggregate concrete were elucidated at both the micro and macroscopic levels. The findings underscore that the three-dimensional network structure established by the UHMWPEFs, while resulting in a reduction in the concrete slump, substantially enhances the concrete's mechanical properties and durability. A regression model for the multifaceted performance of the UHMWPEF-reinforced recycled-brick-aggregate concrete (F-RAC) was formulated by employing response-surface methodology, and the model's reliability was confirmed through variance analysis. The interactive effects of the RA and UHMWPEFs on the concrete were analyzed through a combined approach involving response-surface analysis and contour plots. Subsequently, a multiobjective optimization was conducted for the F-RAC performance, yielding the optimal proportions of RA and UHMWPEFs. It was determined that the optimal performance across the dimensions of the shrinkage resistance, flexural strength, chloride-ion resistance, and freeze-thaw durability of the F-RAC could be simultaneously achieved when the substitution rate of the RA was 14.02% and the admixture of the UHMWPEFs was 1.13%.

Preparation and sports performance of multilayer flexible anti stabbing fabric martial arts sports composite conjugate materials.

Puncture-resistant clothing plays an important role in martial arts. This article studies the preparation process of multi-layer flexible stab-resistant fabrics, analyzes the sports properties of the fabric, and explores the potential application of stab-resistant clothing in martial arts. This article uses ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber as raw material, preprocesses it, including fiber cleaning, drying, lamination, and laminating them together through needle punching, then soaks the laminated fibers in resin, and the soaked fibers solidifies to form a specific flexible puncture-resistant fabric. This article prepares three types of layered fabrics, namely woven fabrics, nonwoven materials, and composite materials of nonwoven materials + woven fabrics + nonwoven materials, and analyzes the kinematic characteristics of the three layered fabrics. Experimental results show that when the number of layers is 4, the average breaking tensile forces of woven fabrics, nonwoven materials and composite materials are 3400, 4600 and 3860 respectively, and the average breaking elongations are 11.8%, 40.6% and 17.4% respectively. This shows that woven fabrics have the highest levels of air permeability and moisture permeability.

Effect of fiber annealing temperature on twisted and coiled UHMWPE actuator performance

Twisted and coiled polymer (TCP) actuators are flexible, wearable, and cost effective. However, the effects of annealing temperature on the properties of these devices are poorly understood. Thus, TCPs were prepared using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers and NiCr string and characterized. High-temperature annealing caused internal crystal-phase transformation, and annealing at 130 °C yielded a coiled fiber with optimized mechanical properties. Electromechanical tests confirmed that TCPs prepared from UHMWPE fibers annealed at 130 °C exhibited the best performance. Additionally, the voltage, displacement, tensile force, and temperature variation in the TCP fibers were recorded under different driving currents and pre-load forces to determine the optimal working conditions, and 1200-cycle life-span tests were carried out for validation. Finally, the driving performance of a TCP array was explored, and the range of motion, pressure, and possibility of lifting weights were tested using a model finger. Overall, the TCP array can be used as a soft actuated dexterous hand robot.

Plasma-assisted surface functionalization of UHMWPE fiber for adhesion improvement with rubber matrix

A plasma-assisted surface modification method was introduced to enhance the interfacial adhesion of rubber composites reinforced with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. First various reactive monomers were grafted onto the fiber surface via a plasma-assisted radical polymerization reaction. Subsequently, the grafted fibers underwent RFL (resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex) dipping process to bolster their interfacial adhesion with rubber. Compared with the original UHMWPE fibers, the modified fiber-reinforced rubber composites showed an increase in H pull-out force by 105.3 %–165.7 N and peel strength by 145.2 % to 10.3 N/mm, reaching the level of general-purpose fabric-core conveyor belt (≥4.5 N/mm). After the modification, the dynamic fatigue life and aging stability of the fiber-reinforced rubber composites were significantly improved, thereby enhancing the service life and safety of the composites. The results show that this method greatly improves the chemical activity, hydrophilicity, and surface roughness of UHMWPE fibers with minimal damage, rendering it a promising choice for industrial applications.

Improvement of UHMWPE fibers interfacial properties by aminosilane/silica synergistic modification

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber has great potential in composite materials due to its low density, high strength, high modulus, and corrosion resistance etc. However, the broad application of UHMWPE fibers has been limited due to the weak interface bonding between the fibers and matrix materials, which is primarily caused by their smooth surface and chemical inert characteristics. This study aimed to enhance the interface performance of UHMWPE fibers by co-modifying their surface through plasma treatment, aminosilane modification, and silica (SiO2) nanoparticle modification. Compared to pristine fibers, the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between the modified fibers and resin increased by over 200%.

A Comprehensive Review of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibers for Applications Based on Their Different Preparation Techniques

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber is widely recognized for its exceptional properties, including high strength-to-weight ratio, toughness, and chemical resistance, making it a preferred material for reinforcement in various applications. However, its low melting point, surface inertness, and weak adhesion to polymer matrices have limited its potential use in some fields. Researchers have addressed these shortcomings by focusing on surface modifications through physical treatment or chemical coating, thereby enhancing the versatility of materials in numerous UHMWPE fiber composites. By improving the tribological and interfacial properties of UHMWPE, various applications can be explored, including prosthetic joints, energy-absorbing road safety systems, microelectromechanical system devices, and protective materials for defense and personal thermal management. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the remarkable performance of UHMWPE and its composites, providing insights into its wide array of applications.

The influence of penetration angle on anti-penetration performance and reverse penetration ricochet phenomenon of UHMWPE laminates

Penetration angle refers to the angle between the normal of laminates and the projectile trajectory. In actual battlefield conditions, projectiles may hit Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fiber (referred to as UHMWPE) laminates from various angles, resulting in ricochet phenomena and secondary injuries. Currently, research on bullets hitting penetrating laminates at a perpendicular angle is relatively well-developed, while research on the penetration of laminates by bullets at other angles is limited. Therefore, this study combined experiments and numerical calculations to investigate the penetration of 7.62 mm steel core projectiles at different angles on UHMWPE laminates. The study found that UHMWPE laminates enhanced bullet resistance through yawing and bending the penetrating projectiles at different angles. The influence of penetration angle on the impact area of the projectile-facing surface, the height of the bulge on the backside, and the penetration depth, as well as the trajectory and morphology of the projectile, were mastered in this study. Notably, a penetration angle of 50° was the limit condition for projectile to produce reverse penetration ricochet phenomenon of projectiles in UHMWPE laminates with a thickness of 30 mm. These research findings provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the bulletproof design of UHMWPE laminates.

Study on the freeze–thaw cycles and carbonization of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite for link slab

To explore the mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite (UHMWPE-ECC) used as link slabs in Northeast and South China, experimental schemes of freeze–thaw cycles and carbonation were designed based on the service life of link slabs replacement expansion joints. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the microscopic morphology of UHMWPE-ECC after undergoing freeze–thaw cycles and carbonization. The carbonization front of UHMWPE-ECC was determined by X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Results indicate that freeze–thaw cycles cause minor surface damage, gradual mass loss, and a decrease in the relative dynamic elastic modulus. Furthermore, the compressive strength of the simulated link slabs is reduced by 9.8%, the tensile strain is reduced by 24.5%, and the ultimate load of three-point bending is reduced by 35.4% after 15 years of service in the Northeast. After 15 years of service in the Southern region, the compressive strength increased by 24.2%, the tensile strain increased by 45.1%, and the ultimate load of three-point bending increased by 61.4%. SEM reveals that carbonization roughens the fibers surface, enhancing bonding between the fiber and cement matrix. Additionally, freeze–thaw cycles cause cracks of less than 1 µm to appear in the matrix, which loosens the matrix and weakens the adhesion between the fiber and cement matrix. The carbonization fronts of link slabs in Southern China for 5, 10, and 15 years were 3–4 mm, 5–6 mm, and 6–7 mm. The tensile strain of UHMWPE-ECC after 15 years of service in the Northeast and Southern regions is 3.38 and 6.29 times what is required for the link slab in that region, and the compressive strengths all meet the requirements of the Chinese Bridge Code.