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Catalytic grafting: A new technique for polymer/fiber composites. II. Plasma treated UHMPE fibers/polyethylene composites
Author(s) -
Wang Qi,
AitKadi Abdellatif,
Kaliaguine Serge
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.1992.070450611
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , high density polyethylene , polyethylene , ultimate tensile strength , fiber , grafting , composite number , polymer
In this paper, the catalytic grafting technique for preparation of polymer/fiber composites is extended to plasma treated ultra‐high modulus polyethylene (UHMPE) fiber/high density polyethylene (HDPE) system. The OH groups introduced on the UHMPE fiber surface by oxygen plasma treatment were used to chemically anchor Ziegler‐Natta catalyst which then was followed by ethylene polymerization on the fiber surface. The morphology and interfacial behavior, as well as the mechanical properties, of the HDPE composites reinforced by catalytic grafted or ungrafted UHMPE fibers were investigated by SEM, DSC, polarized light optical microscopy, and tensile testing. The experimental results show that the polyethylene grafted on the fibers acted as a transition layer between the reinforcing UHMPE fibers and a commercial HDPE matrix. The interfacial adhesion was also significantly improved. Compared with the composite reinforced by ungrafted UHMPE fibers, the composite reinforced by catalytic grafted UHMPE fibers exhibits much better mechanical properties.