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Surface modification of UHSPE fibers through allylamine plasma deposition. II. Effect on fiber and fiber/epoxy interface
Author(s) -
Li Z.F.,
Netravali A. N.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1992.070440217
Subject(s) - materials science , epoxy , fiber , composite material , allylamine , scanning electron microscope , polyethylene , surface modification , adhesion , polymer , chemical engineering , polyelectrolyte , engineering
The surface of ultra‐high strength polyethylene (UHSPE) fibers was modified using allylamine plasma deposition to improve their adhesion to epoxy resins. Allylamine plasma polymerization was investigated at different power inputs and polymerization times. The adhesion of treated fibers to epoxy resin was studied by single‐fiber, pull‐out tests. A special silicon rubber mold was developed to embed the single fiber in epoxy resin. The results show that the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) increased by a factor of 2 to 3 after allylamine plasma treatments. The greatest improvement, by a factor of 3.25, was obtained at 30 W for 10 min. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to study the surface topography of fibers pulled from the epoxy resin. In most cases, it was observed that pull‐out failure occurred at the interface, as evidenced from clean fiber surfaces. In a few cases, however, fibrils were peeled from fibers. The fiber strength decreased, but initial modulus increased after the plasma treatments. The decrease in fiber strength was insignificant for treatments at a lower power input, but was significant at higher power inputs. Treatment time, however, had no significant effect on fiber strength.