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Surface modification of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers by plasma treatment. I. Improving surface adhesion
Author(s) -
Gao Shanglin,
Zeng Yeguang
Publication year - 1993
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.1993.070471116
Subject(s) - adhesion , polyethylene , materials science , contact angle , composite material , surface modification , fiber , surface energy , epoxy , plasma , synthetic fiber , plasma etching , etching (microfabrication) , chemical engineering , layer (electronics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The fiber/epoxy resin adhesion increases after plasma treatment on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW‐PE) fibers. The surface modification of UHMW‐PE monofilaments was studied using a combination of techniques: contact‐angle measurements, SEM, and pullout tests. The results may be summarized as follows: Infiuenced by different plasma parameters and draw ratios of the monofilaments, the adhesion increases by at least four times by plasma treatment. Failure in the pullout tests involve rupture within a treated monofilament and the skin of it was peeled off; the degree of peeling‐off is affected by different plasma treatment conditions and draw ratios of the monofilaments. There is only a slight decrease in the surface energy of the treated monofilaments with aging time. Ways of combining plasma etching with other chemical treatments to further improve the fiber/resin adhesion have also been studied. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.